Moses Itauma Weighs December Opponents following Withdrawing from IBF Eliminator

Rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma has turned down a proposed IBF world title eliminator against Frank Sanchez, a decision that temporarily stalls his direct path to a world title shot.

Had Itauma accepted—and defeated—the slick Cuban contender, he would have been positioned as a mandatory challenger for the IBF title, currently held by Oleksandr Usyk, who also owns the WBO, WBA, and WBC belts.

With Itauma out, the opportunity now shifts to Richard Torrez Jr., the undefeated American Olympian, who is expected to be offered the Sanchez fight instead. The IBF slot was originally lined up for Efe Ajagba, but the Nigerian puncher opted for a different route, opening the door for Itauma before he, too, passed.

Ajagba, along with fellow Top Rank heavyweights Jared Anderson and Torrez, finds himself in limbo amid uncertainty surrounding the promotional company’s future. Sanchez, who made his name by outboxing and dropping Ajagba on a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card, had since been defeated by Agit Kabayel, who dominated him and is now pushing toward world-level contention.

A bout with Sanchez would have been a significant step up for 20-year-old Itauma, testing his unbeaten record and reputation as one of Britain’s brightest heavyweight prospects.

Instead, the Frank Warren-promoted southpaw is being lined up for a December return, with opponents like David Adeleye and Michael Hunter currently under discussion.

Derek Chisora is also expected to feature on the same December 13 card, with talk of a potential trilogy bout against Dillian Whyte in the works. Deontay Wilder, another name floated as a future opponent, is now likely to return first in a U.S.-based tune-up fight.