When could Moses Itauma win a heavyweight world title?

Moses Itauma will bid to push himself deeper into the conversation for a heavyweight world title shot when he faces Jermaine Franklin this month.

Originally scheduld for January, the Briton will now face the veteran American at Manchester's Co-op Live on March 28, live and exclusive on DAZN .

Ever since he burst onto the scene, powerbrokers and pundits have tipped the fast-rising starlet for future greatness and glory at the sport's summit.

Itauma made no secret of a hope to challenge for Mike Tyson's record as the youngest-ever heavyweight champion too, even if he missed the mark.

Still, it seems a case of when rather than if the star will earn his stripes in the ring for a major belt - but how soon could that be for him and his team?

DAZN News explores the likely timeframes for Moses Itauma to launch a world heavyweight title challenge - and how it might just unfold for the star.

Option One: 2026

This would require a few moving pieces to fall into place for Itauma, despite the fact the star holds impressive ranks with multiple governing bodies.

Oleksandr Usyk currently holds the WBA, WBC and IBF titles, while Fabio Wardley is scheduled to make the first defence of his WBO crown soon.

The former is teasing an announcement across his social channels, and has previously suggested his next defence will come in his native Ukraine.

The latter meanwhile saw his fist-bump turned down by rival and ex-IBF champion Daniel Dubois, ahead of the pair's bout in Manchester this May.

The likelihood is that, unless Usyk drops a belt or faces a mandatory order, he will challenge the winner of Wardley-Dubois in the latter half of 2026.

That undisputed title fight would leave Itauma on the outside looking in. There could be a path this year - but it feels to be a bit of a stretch right now.

Option Two: 2027

This feels far more likely for Itauma, who will book at least one more, if not two fights after the Franklin test - providing he comes through unscathed.

By this point, any theoretical undisputed bout will have taken place - but whoever wins it will have a hard time keeping their grasp on all four belts.

The varied politics of boxing's governing bodies means that mandatory orders will start flying - and Usyk, Wardley and Dubois may be less than keen.

The former in particular has already shown a willingness to end his four-belt tenure on his own terms, releasing them to the other pair on both occasions.

Likewise, if Usyk, Wardley and Dubois fail to make an undisputed bout in the first place, the WBO likely order a mandatory for their next challenger too.

Right now, that is Itauma, sat pretty at number one in the governing body's heavyweight rankings. A Q1 clash in 2027 feels very feasible right now.

Option Three: 2028 and beyond

Right now, it seems like Itauma is unstoppable - but the star himself has gone to great lengths in offering his opponents praise and respect beforehand.

He knows the fight game can turn on a dime. If Franklin, or whoever comes after in 2026 manage to inflict a defeat upon him, his stock takes a critical hit.

After that, he would need to regather - and despite some prime ranking places, he is far from the only man bidding to wrangle a title shot in the division.

Agit Kabayel currently holds the WBC interim strap, while Murat Gassiev has the WBA's secondary title. Lawrence Okolie and Filip Hrgovic are contenders.

Then there is Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. If the latter does get back to the ring in 2026, it surely will tee up a 2027 clash that mixes up the order.

Itauma can only dictate his own destiny of course, and another winning year should keep him on track. But with so many others, he may still have to wait.

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