Some want him hot, some want him cold, some want him when he’s over one hundred years old

By Ed Emeanua

The fear of Moses Itauma (13-0 11KOs) is the beginning of wisdom for prospective opponents in line to face the the hard-hitting heavyweight boxing prodigy.

The WBO number 1 contender has a December 13 fight date at the Co-op Arena, in Manchester, England. The general idea is to have him main event the bill.

That proposed fight is being promoted by Queensberry and would be shown live by DAZN.

The trouble is, the venue is booked, but, the main event card is yet to be set-there is no top ten ranked opponent ready to box with Itauma.

Many have been called to the dance with the British Heavyweight boxing sensation, but, only few have chosen to take the likely career altering risk.

It is clear that some in the top ten heavyweight rank prefer taking on ‘The Wrecking Ball’ just when he’s notably ice-cold and worn.

Other likely foes in the fighter’s weight class seem to be only willing to wait it out and box Itauma when he’s probably well over hundred, old, and shriveled up.

Yet, only a few are willing to take the bold step to fight him now that he’s red hot and sizzling. But the problem with this later class is none are in the top ten heavyweight ranks of boxing championship authorizing bodies.

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Filip Hrgovic, Derek Chisora, Tyson Fury, and Jermaine Franklin are just some heavyweights that have been offered a chance to face the hard-hitting Itauma whether now or in the not too distant past. But for one reason or another, these top ten challengers have all bypassed the opportunity for a fight with the rising star.

Retiring veteran heavyweight Chisora, even refused a cool $2M purse offer in June to be the 13th opponent in Itauma’s promising career in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Had ‘The War’ accepted the fight, it would have also been his 50th and the valedictory bout had desperately sought.

The 41-year-old Zimbabwean-British heavyweight boxer was then searching for ‘the right opponent’ for his retirement fight in hope of bringing his over two decades career to a decrescendo.

In June, Chisora told talkSPORT: “I had a phone call a couple of weeks ago. “They offered me to fight Moses Itauma in Saudi.”

However, in spite of the $2 million in purse offer for the challenge, Chisora chose to turn his back on a huge payday, adding, “I said how much? They said a couple of million, and I said ‘Nah, I’m out.’” 

Fury, who retired in January after two back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, also made it clear he wouldn’t be caught inside the same ring boxing with Itauma.

The ‘Gypsy King,’ who in May of last year, lost the match for the undisputed title to Usyk, and the rematch, in which the Ukrainian retained all the belts, has recently been very affirmative about a likely trilogy with ‘The Cat’.

Fight maker Frank Warren, who promotes matches for the Nigerian-born British heavyweight boxer has been running into roadblocks while hunting down worthy oppositions for Itauma.

Warren has found to his chagrin that likely oppositions for his rising ward doesn’t want any part of a hot ‘n sassy Itauma, just yet.

As the days go by, and the weeks race on, the list of likely heavyweight challenger rejections for the British heavyweight boxing rave-of-the-moment is steadily growing longer.

Just as the catalog of top foes willing to go toe-to-toe with Itauma is swiftly dwindling, those asking to take him on the way he’s right now are turning out to be the wannabes of the division.

Itauma’s camp feel they are unworthy to fight their ward because they are less likely to shore up his ranking to pave way for a heavyweight championship contest for the sensational fighter.

Trainer Ben Davison affirmed to DAZN that his talented heavyweight is ready for a showdown with undisputed champion Usyk. But, ‘The Cat‘ is currently out of fight reckoning on account of lingering hiatus due to his injury status. 

The hot 20-year-old heavyweight boxing rave-of-the-moment, Itauma, kayoed Dillian Whyte, in the first of their 10 round contest last month. But it seems the victory only helped to scare off potential next foes.

‘The Wrecking Ball,’ whose quest is a swift ring return in December against a top 10 contender may not have his wish.

Team Itauma’s hopes of furthering his heavyweight fighting fame that is currently hotter than July, could suffer unintended consequences because he’s regarded too hot to handle by his peers.

A gloss over of potential heavyweight opponents who have rejected the opportunity to clash with Itauma in the ring in his proposed December matchup incidentally reveals the who-is-who of the heavyweight rank.

The ‘want-no-part of Trauma front runner’ following his first round knockout of Whyte at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi in August is former Anthony Joshua challenger Hrgovic.

The Croatian became the initial favorite to fight Itauma after also coming out victorious in his last fight in which he competed in the undercard of Itauma vs. Whyte in Saudi Arabia.

Hrgovic’s win in Saudi Arabia was made even more remarkable for his having endured a ghastly gash to his right eye during his fight, but bounced back to floor and defeat David Adeleye on points in their enthralling contest.

However, Itauma’s trainer told DAZN that Hrgovic has spurned the chance to fight his young heavyweight kayo artiste.

Davison said that American heavyweight Franklin, also rejected the opportunity to box with his promising British heavyweight fighter.

On the issue of likely upcoming fight for ‘The Wrecking Ball, Davison told Sky Sports: “Those are the two on everybody’s lips. They’re not interested, and it’s the same for pretty much all of them, so it’s difficult. It’s difficult to get these opponents at this moment in time. They’re not interested; they don’t want to play ball.

“They just want so much money to box him; it’s hard to get the opponents.”

Itauma’s promoter Warren hinted the Croatian priced himself out of the proposed December fight date.

“There’s two ways to say you don’t want to fight,” Warren told talkSPORT Boxing.

“You say I don’t want the fight or I want a trillion pounds for it.”

According to DAZN, Warren is adamant a looming fight notice is still in the offing, adding, “It will be a top 10 ranked opponent.”

DAZN has reported that alternative top 10 rated heavyweight opponents who are feasible to take on Itauma consist of Lawrence Okolie, Martin Bakole, and Jarrell Miller.

Okolie injured a bicep in his last fight in July and his return date is in limbo. Bakole has not been anywhere near a boxing event since his boring draw with Efe Ajagba and will probably be ready for a fight before the year runs out.

Miller was billed to box with Michael Hunter last week, but Hunter was unavailable due to statutory discord. According to DAZN, Miller is a tough and skillful boxer that is certain to give Itauma the exposure his team thinks he needs before moving up to take a shot at a world title.

DAZN reports there are also the pair of Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley in Itauma’s consideration. The two fellow contenders are billed to fight on October 25 in London with the winner next in line to challenge undisputed champion Usyk.

They are both Queensberry boxers as well as the WBO and WBA interim heavyweight champions. DAZN reports that Itauma is ranked in the top 10 within three of the four authorizing organizations and is therefore perfectly situated to fight with the winner in 2026, in spite of currently sharing the same trainer with Wardley.