Moses It will hurt is hoping to take over the heavyweight division in the coming years, but in the eyes of heavyweight icon Lennox Lewisthere is one heavyweight that the youngster should avoid facing.

Now that Oleksandr Usyk has vacated his three world titles in the division, Itauma is extremely well poised to capitalise, having been called out by newly crowned WBA ruler Murat Gassiev, ordered for a IBF title shot, but also linked to a shot at new WBC champion Agit Kabayel.

As for the WBO marble, Itauma is currently sat as the mandatory challenger in the division, expected to be ordered for a fight against the victor of Daniel Dubois and Fabio Wardley’s pending rematch.

As a result, should Itauma come through his meeting with Filip Hrgovic unscathed next monthit seems as though a world title bid will be next.

Whilst Itauma is trying to prove himself as the best heavyweight on the planet, three-time world champion Lewis told iFL TV that he should steer clear of Usyk, despite the Ukrainian being 39 years old.

“Moses is a great, upcoming, young fighter. He has got a lot of grit, he throws some good punches. I think that there is a time where he is going to have to make that move but the time isn’t now, he has got a lot of time left, [he should] take his time.

“No rush[forUsyk[atallIfIwashimIwouldwaituntilOleksandrUsykisretiredandknowthat‘Iamrulingthisheavyweightscenerightnow’buttogoagainsthimrightnowisabittooearly”[forUsyk[atallIfIwashimIwouldwaituntilOleksandrUsykisretiredandknowthat‘Iamrulingthisheavyweightscenerightnow’buttogoagainsthimrightnowisabittooearly”

Itauma-Hrgovic takes place on Saturday, August 29with the 21-year-old Briton set to top the O2 Arena bill as he headlines in the U.K. capital for the first time.

“With this new deal, I can make any fight that I want in the sport of boxing,” Shakur told Ring Magazine. “There’s not no restrictions. It’s not no, ‘I can’t fight this guy.’ Boxing is not the same no more.”

The undefeated WBO light welterweight champion said critics are still viewing the sport through an outdated lens and believes Zuffa’s model will change that.

“The critics got to get past thinking in the old mindset. The new mindset is the best fighting the best, and I’m all for it. I think Zuffa is all for it too. So let’s do it,” said Shakur.

Stevenson expanded on that point later in the interview, saying recent changes in boxing have already made major fights easier to put together.

“The business of boxing is not in the way no more,” he said. “I think with Zuffa, with Turki backing Zuffa, it’s just so much in the sport of boxing that can get done. Any of these guys want to say they want to fight Shakur? Then sign it up. I’m ready.”

While Shakur declined to call out a specific opponent, he reiterated that he is willing to face whoever emerges as the best available option. He also described the proposed fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis as “the biggest fight in the sport” before adding that he is prepared to fight any elite opponent if the opportunity reaches his table.

Shakur signed with Zuffa Boxing today as the promotion continues building its roster around a UFC-style model backed by Dana White and Turki Alalshikh. His signing immediately led to speculation over future fights against Gervonta, Devin Haney and other top names as the new promotion looks to establish itself in boxing.

“The fight is very close,” Garcia told BoxingScene. “Eric Gomez, Vergil Senior, Rick Mirigian, they all came to me and asked me what I think about the fight. I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ There is no need to wait for that fight, there’s no need to get a fight before that.”

Robert also dismissed suggestions that Ortiz needs another fight before facing Ennis, pointing to his recent activity and performance against Israil Madrimov.

“Vergil fought less than a year ago. There’s world champions right now that fight once a year or once every 18 months, and nobody says they’re out of timing because of the delay,” Robert said. “Vergil fought less than a year ago, and people seem to forget his performance against Madrimov.”

Garcia finished by making it clear that he believes the only remaining hurdle is Ennis’ side accepting the fight.

“The fight will happen. The only thing that could stop the fight is if Boots decides not to fight, but the fight on our side. It’s a done deal,” said Robert.

Ennis captured the WBA and WBO junior middleweight titles with a seventh-round stoppage of Xander Zayas on June 27. Ortiz last fought in November 2025, when he stopped Erickson Lubin in two rounds. If finalized, the bout would match Ennis’ unified titles against Ortiz’s WBC interim championship in one of the division’s biggest unification fights.