Fast-rising Nigerian-born heavyweight boxer, Moses Itauma is facing a huge dilemma of choice, following a directive by World Boxing Federation (IBF) that he must face Frank Sanchez of Cuba in a title fight before the end of this year.
Sports247 reports that Itauma already has a bout lined up in August, which leaves him with a tough decision to take, after IBF ordered him into an agreement with Sanchez as soon as July 29th.
It’s now left to be seen if the 21-year-old Nigerian-born Britiish boxing prodigy will drop his date in August in order to concentrate on the IBF title fight, or he could try to muscle both bouts together in a huge gamble.
The dilemma facing Itauma arises after highly dominant Ukrainian, but now erstwhile three-belt holder, Oleksandr Usyk relinquished his IBF strap, along with his World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) titles in one swoop.
While WBC upgraded their interim champion, Agit Kabayel to take up the main belt, following Usyk’s decision, IBF have moved to arrange a bout for the vacant title, with specificc attention on Itauma, who in March got a fifth-round win over USA’s Jermaine Franklin.
Itauma is among the top three contenders on all three cards, but IBF have made the first move in trying to muscle Britain’s Best Boxer of The Year 2026 into an epic title shot within the shortest time possibile.
This is despite the fact that Itauma is already scheduled to fight Filip Hrgovic of Croatia at London’s O2 Arena on August 29th, in what he has referred to as his ‘toughest fight,’ but he may now decide to pull out or face Sanchez afterwards.
A report by Yahoo Sports adds, “Itauma has been ordered by the IBF to hold talks with Cuba’s Frank Sanchez about fighting for the vacant heavyweight title.
“The IBF said that, ‘in accordance with championship rules,’ it now wants Sanchez, who is number one in their heavyweight rankings, to fight number three contender Itauma. They have until 29 July to reach an agreement.”
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