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Oleksandr Usyk delivers verdict on potential Moses Itauma showdown
Oleksandr Usyk has given his verdict on a potential fight between him and 20-year-old British heavyweight Moses Itauma as the world waits to hear who he will fight next.
The undisputed heavyweight champion kept his cards close to his chest, but insisted Itauma is definitely not on the table, despite Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh posting on social media that he wanted to make Usyk vs Itauma after the Ukrainian defeated Daniel Dubois in July.
“[Fight] With Itauma? I won’t fight him,” Usyk told UNN. “He’s young. He’s still pushing me. And he said he doesn’t hit old men.
“I can’t say who I’ll be in the ring with because negotiations are underway. I’d be fooling you if I gave you a name.”
Itauma, with or without the Usyk fight, is well on his way to becoming a world champion after handily dispatching a former world title challenger, Dillian Whyte, in the first round two months ago.
He is currently scheduled to return to the ring on December 13 against an unconfirmed opponent in the hopes of taking another step towards a world title.
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Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
Itauma looked as though he was going to fight Kubrat Pulev for his WBA (Regular) title after the governing body ordered negotiations, but that has since fallen through as it was announced that Pulev will instead defend his title against former cruiserweight champion and rival of Usyk, Murat Gassiev, in December.
The two other frontrunners for Itauma's next fight are David Adeleye and Michael Hunter.
Usyk has been enjoying some well-earned time away from the ring after two back-to-back victories over Tyson Fury and a knockout win over Daniel Dubois in July to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.
The Ukrainian's return is yet to be confirmed, but he is expected back at some point next year, and if he hopes to keep a hold of his undisputed titles, it will have to be against the winner of the upcoming WBO interim title fight between Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley on October 25.
However, he has also been linked to a third fight with Tyson Fury, who is hoping for one final shot at the 38-year-old.
Watch Parker vs Wardley live on DAZN
Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley fight on Saturday, October 25, to become the WBO mandatory challenger to Oleksandr Usyk. Watch the fight and undercard live and exclusive on DAZN PPV.
