The immediate future of British heavyweight Moses Itauma is beginning to take shape following his emphatic fifth-round knockout of Jermaine Franklin.
At 21 years old, and with a record of 14-0 (12 KOs), Itauma has quickly become one of the best youngsters in all of boxing. His victory over Franklin, who had never been stopped before, confirmed what many insiders already believed, the Brit is no longer a prospect but a legitimate threat.
And with victories over Mariusz Wach, Dillian Whyte, and now Franklin, the unbeaten fighter’s promoter Frank Warren may find himself in a conundrum when it comes to imminent matchmaking too great a threat for other contenders, and an unavoidable proposition for the elite.
Regardless, one high-level contender has raised his metaphorical hand, and that’s WBA ‘regular’ champion Murat Gassiev, who is coming off a knockout victory over veteran Kubrat Pulev in Dubai, reaffirming his destructive power in the heavyweight ranks late, last year.
Driving the potential matchup is Al Siesta, CEO of IBA Pro, who is now pushing for the fight, despite Itauma’s increasingly awe inspiring status.
“We are ready to host Itauma against our WBA champion Murat Gassiev next [in] London, Moscow, Dubai, anywhere.”
Siesta didn’t hold back when comparing Itauma’s recent opposition to the Russian puncher:
“Taking shots from Jermaine Franklin, who is not a puncher, and taking shots from Murat Gassiev, who is a cranial bender, it’s a different thing … I’m telling you,” he said, “to knock Itauma out in front of British fans would be spectacular.”
The WBA had initially ordered Pulev to defend his title against Itauma, but ultimately sanctioned a bout with Gassiev instead. The 32-year-old Russian capitalized, stopping Pulev in six rounds and claiming the title. Now, with Gassiev holding the belt and Itauma positioned as a top contender, the matchup appears to makes sporting and commercial sense.
From Itauma’s side, promoter Frank Warren has confirmed the young heavyweight will return in July, likely on home soil. Still, finding a willing opponent has proven difficult potentially opening the door to a high risk, high reward clash sooner than expected.
Itauma had previously expressed interest in facing Croatian contender Filip Hrgovic, but with Hrgovic now set to face Dave Allen, alternatives are limited.
Meanwhile, IBA Pro’s financial backing spearheaded by Umar Kremlev could play a decisive role in a potential purse bid, even bringing the fight to Russia if mandated by the WBA.
From a sporting perspective, the bout presents a classic dilemma: is Gassiev too much, too soon for Itauma or exactly the kind of test he needs to validate his place among the elite?
The Brit has already claimed to have passed a ‘chin test’ against Franklin, absorbing clean shots before closing the show in the fifth. But Gassiev represents a completely different equation: proven power, elite level experience, and the ability to end a fight with a single punch.
For now, it remains speculation, but Gassiev’s name is firmly on the table. And in a division hungry for new stars and meaningful matchups, Itauma may be approaching the first defining moment of his career.
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