No. 1-ranked Moses Itauma and “regular” WBA heavyweight champion Kubrat Pulev have been ordered by the sanctioning body to begin negotiations for the fight. The deadline for agreeing the contract is November 14.
Fans are already criticizing Itauma for the news that the WBA ordered him to fight Pulev. They predict that Itauma will fight for the belt without risking defeat.
Another aging opponent
If I were Itauma, I wouldn’t take this fight because it makes no sense. However, given Itauma’s track record against older fighters that built his undefeated record, this fight is for him.
This is an ideal situation for 20-year-old Itauma (13-0, 11 KO) to become world champion without the risk of defeat. With the victory, Moses would become the second WBA champion. In other words, a lesser champion. The belt holder with the prestigious WBA title is Oleksandr Usyk.
The 44-year-old Pulev (32-3, 14 KO) fits the category of opponent Itauma has been fighting since turning professional in 2023. Three of his opponents were in their 40s, and many were in their 30s.
It is unclear whether Itauma will agree to the WBA’s order to fight Pulev. If he takes this fight, it will look bad for him considering he recently decided not to fight Frank Sanchez for an IBF title eliminator. A fight with Pulev would make Itauma look like he was being maneuvered into a title shot.
If Itauma is as good as fans and promoters tell him, fighting Pulev for the title of the second WBA champion makes no sense.
Still no promotion
What Itauma should have done was fight Sanchez to show that he was a real fighter and not the hype job that some boxing fans suspect. It’s strenuous not to look at Itauma in this featherlight when you look at the lower-level opponents he faced as a pro.
At this point, a stronger opponent should have appeared to test whether Itauma was a good opponent, but that didn’t happen. This is a red flag. A fight with Sanchez or a fight with Filip Hrgovic would be the perfect matchup for Moses to prove that he is not as bogus as some fans think.
Since 2015, Olly Campbell has been providing readers with a clear perspective from behind the ring and a confident voice on boxing’s biggest nights.
Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2010 and writing for Boxing News 24 since 2014. He has been based in the UK and currently covers the world boxing scene, providing fight news, results and features that allow fans to hear the biggest stories in the sport.
With a background in reporting from the UK and Europe, Olly has developed a style that combines piercing analysis with accessible writing, making his work valuable to dedicated followers and casual fans alike. His reports consistently highlight champions, challengers and emerging prospects on the global stage.