Moses Itauma is well on his way to a world title shot and could soon be widely recognized as Britain’s outstanding heavyweight. Now Dillian Whyte has revealed whether he believes the 21-year-old will be able to defeat two-time world champion Anthony Joshua after facing both men.

Whyte collided with Joshua in a memorable battle in 2015, revisiting their amateur rivalry. After a hard-fought fight, “AJ” scored a dramatic knockout victory to capture the coveted British heavyweight title.

Ten years later, 37-year-old Whyte tried to thwart another rising star, but was quickly outclassed by youthful Itauma, who dispatched “The Body Snatcher” within two minutes of the opening round.

However, despite his recent first-round loss to Itauma, Whyte said iFL Television that he could still pick Joshua to win if he were to face the Kent phenom, but added that it all depends on how Joshua looks in his fight next month.

“My first answer would be no, [Itauma doesn’t beat Anthony Joshua]but I think we’ll have to wait and see what’s left for AJ, how he’s feeling mentally, if he’s recovered from what he’s been through recently and how much ambition he has left to fight.

“Obviously he made some changes. He went to Usyk, trying to look for something else, so let’s see if it works and if it works for him, we’ll have to see. AJ sometimes goes crazy, one minute he’s on track and the next he’s not, so let’s see.”

Joshua fights Albanian Kristian Prenga on Saturday, July 25 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, looking to kick off his long-awaited showdown with arch-rival Tyson Fury.

As for Itauma, he is expected to return in August and his rise to the top of the division will continue. Filip Hrgovic remains the leader, assuming the Croatian is in good shape after his recent three-round clash with Dave Allen.

David Benavidez may be approaching an vital crossroads in his career. Sean Zittel has revealed that David Benavidez only has one fight left with promoter Samson Lewkowicz, a detail that could impact his future options at airy heavyweight and cruiserweight.

“David Benavidez only has one fight left with his current promoter, Samson Lewkowicz,” Zittel said on his YouTube channel. “Now this is just my two cents, my speculation. I wonder if Dana White and Zuffa, who are apparently open to working with Luis DeCubas and Al Haymon, what if David waits to sign this deal?”

“What if the other party is waiting for David to sign the contract so they can do business right away without a current promoter contract?”

Benavidez’s future has become a major topic in recent weeks as his team weighs options at both airy heavyweight and cruiserweight. Jose Benavidez Sr. told Zittel that Dmitry Bivol remains his preferred target, with Artur Beterbiev also high on the list if a fight with Bivol is not possible.

Zittel suggested that Benavidez’s contract situation could become an vital factor if massive opportunities arise with Turki Alalshikh, Dana White or Zuffa Boxing.

“Maybe you don’t want this promoter to be involved. Maybe you want to try to become his promoter with Luis and Al Haymon. But I don’t know. I only know what I’ve been told by all the people involved,” Zittel said.

The comments come after Zittel reported that sources close to the situation believe the third fight between Beterbiev and Bivol is likely to take place in Russia rather than under Saudi Arabian financing, potentially causing Benavidez to seek another opportunity elsewhere.

Benavidez continues to pursue a title shot as the boxing world waits to see if his next fight will also be the last fight under his current promotional deal.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.

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Last updated: 12/06/2026 at 12:58

Gervonta Davis has more concerns than Floyd Schofield as the WBA’s 30-day lightweight championship clock continues to tick down on a deadline that suddenly seems a lot less significant than it did a week ago.

As WBN previously reported, highlighting the confusion surrounding the WBA’s mandatory order, there are only 23 days left until the conclusion of negotiations between Davis and number one contender Floyd Schofield.

Floyd Schofield is waiting

Schofield keeps the pressure on while Davis remains noiseless on the matter.

The undefeated contender has posted repeatedly about Davis on social media in recent weeks, and recently drew attention to the passing deadline.

“Negotiations have begun with only 23 days remaining. I wonder what will happen now with the current Tank Davis situation,” Schofield wrote, asking what effect this might have on the WBA order.

The post was another reminder that while Schofield appears fully focused on securing his first shot at a world title, there is still uncertainty on the champion’s side.

It is unclear whether Davis focuses on any of these issues.

Gervonta Davis

His last public appearance was alongside Adrien Broner on a livestream that felt more like checking on a friend than a boxing discussion. There was no indication that the mandatory title negotiations occupied most of Davis’s attention.

This is hardly surprising.

Davis publicly retired from the sport before agreeing to face Jake Paul in a lucrative crossover fight. This deal later collapsed due to legal complications that still persist.

Reports indicate that Davis is still dealing with the consequences of a probation violation stemming from the incident at a Miami strip club that derailed Paul’s fight.

The matter has become so grave that questions about Davis’ immediate future compete with questions about who he will fight next.

WBA title clock

This leaves the WBA in an increasingly awkward position after Davis was granted champion status during his hiatus in January.

The organization ordered Davis and Schofield to begin negotiations. Schofield is waiting. The deadline is approaching.

With the clock ticking, the irony is that the biggest obstacle to the fight may have nothing to do with Floyd Schofield.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has been interviewing world champions, breaking down international titles exclusively and reporting from the ring. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.