Targeted for a return to the ring in December, Moses Itauma’s comeback is facing its first stumbling block in the form of an apparently reluctant opponent.
Improving to 13-0 in his young career last month, unbeaten heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma stopped former WBC title challenger Dillian Whyte with a dominant first-round knockout win in the Middle East.
And in the time since, the Slovakian-born contender has been linked with a whole host of massive fights at the heavyweight limit, including a blockbuster with Oleksandr Usyk.
However, with an end-of-year comeback pencilled in, Itauma’s planned opponent is reportedly dragging his heels on a pairing.
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Moses Itauma facing comeback fight headache
Expected to make his comeback as soon as December 13 in a high-profile fight in Manchester, Itauma seems to be struggling to land his targeted opponent.
According to veteran boxing commentator Adam Smith, Itauma is lined up to take on recent feature Filip Hrgovic in a sizable test for the unbeaten star.
However, Hrgovic is reportedly reluctant to agree to terms on the clash, having shared the card with Itauma last month in a decision win over another British star, David Adeleye.
“He’s (Moses Itauma) just destroying everybody,” Smith told Boxing Now. “He needs rounds. I was just talking to Ben Davison. I think Filip Hrgovic is the perfect opponent [for Itauma].
“But they can’t get him to agree [to the] fight,” Smith continued. “We’ll have to wait and see. Moses will be back in December, and I’m very excited about Moses Itauma. I think he will be a world champion. And I think he will be a world champion soon. …”
And with a December timeframe for a comeback, don’t expect Itauma to face-off with another former world champion next, especially in his immediate return to the ring.
Anthony Joshua already ruled out of Moses Itauma fight
Himself targeting a 2026 return to the squared circle, former two-time world titleholder Anthony Joshua has seen his future cast into some doubt recently.
Initially missing out on a showdown with the polarizing Jake Paul, Joshua has since been ruled out of a laundry list of potential fights next, with Eddie Hearn hoping to carefully plot his return to the ring.
And another fight the Olympic gold medalist has now been ruled out of next is a showdown with the unbeaten Itauma.
“I don’t really look at the Moses (Itauma) fight and think that’s a fight for AJ (Anthony Joshua),” Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports. “There are many reasons for that. One, what do you gain out of it?
“Moses is a very good fighter. If you win, you’ve beaten up a 20-year-old. If you lose, you’ve lost to a 20-year-old and your career’s over. It’s a dangerous fight. I rate Moses very highly.”