Moses Itauma is set to be installed as the WBO’s mandatory heavyweight challenger following his fifth-round stoppage of Jermaine Franklin, with the sanctioning body preparing to formalize his position.
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed the development, stating: “I will formally recommend to the Championship Committee that Mr Itauma be designated as the mandatory challenger in the WBO heavyweight division.” Itauma is currently ranked No. 1 by both the WBO and WBA, and No. 3 by the WBC.
Champion Fabio Wardley, who faces Daniel Dubois on May 9, played down immediate talk of a clash.
“There are different milestones I think Moses will want to tick off. He’s number one with the WBA as well. He’s well on his way but ultimately I know people like to try and put us together and whichever else but there’s four belts out there. There’s enough time. So, yeah, everyone can just calm down a bit.”
Both fighters are trained by Ben Davison and promoted by Frank Warren, while the winner of Wardley vs Dubois is expected to be ordered to face Itauma next. Other possible routes for Itauma include bouts with Murat Gassiev or Lawrence Okolie.
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