Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin | DAZN - 28 March 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

If terms are not agreed before purse bids then it’s unlikely that Itauma will fight Dec. 13.

[tiny_acres]

I knew it would be Pulev. It makes sense.
Itauma will be a world champion at least to the casual fan

[gilgamesh]

I knew it would be Pulev. It makes sense.
Itauma will be a world champion at least to the casual fan

Is it for a vacant title or something? How the hell would Pulev be ranked highly enough for that?

[tiny_acres]

I knew it would be Pulev. It makes sense.
Itauma will be a world champion at least to the casual fan

Is it for a vacant title or something? How the hell would Pulev be ranked highly enough for that?

Pulev is currently the WBA regular champion

[gilgamesh]

I knew it would be Pulev. It makes sense.
Itauma will be a world champion at least to the casual fan

Is it for a vacant title or something? How the hell would Pulev be ranked highly enough for that?

Pulev is currently the WBA regular champion

So he's a fringe contender then, got it.

[tiny_acres]

Is it for a vacant title or something? How the hell would Pulev be ranked highly enough for that?

Pulev is currently the WBA regular champion

So he's a fringe contender then, got it.

Correction. He is a fringe contender with a shiny belt

[gilgamesh]

The Regular title means jack sh*t to absolutely everyone.

The European title means more

[tiny_acres]

The Regular title means jack sh*t to absolutely everyone.

The European title means more

But the casual boxing fan and the idiots that buy PPV will eat up Itauma holding a Pseudo world title.
The true boxing fan will know his belt is meaningless

[gilgamesh]

The Regular title means jack sh*t to absolutely everyone.

The European title means more

But the casual boxing fan and the idiots that buy PPV will eat up Itauma holding a Pseudo world title.
The true boxing fan will know his belt is meaningless

Casual boxing fans don't buy PPV's. Who would pay 50 bucks to watch a fighter they've barely heard of?

[Taansend]

Is it for a vacant title or something? How the hell would Pulev be ranked highly enough for that?

Pulev is currently the WBA regular champion

So he's a fringe contender then, got it.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Some casual fans are a bit more than casual..

They see through the regular bullshit.

Moses would do well on BBC.

He’s hidden behind a paywall behind another paywall currently.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Heavyweights Kubrat Pulev, Murat Gassiev Will Square Off Dec. 12

Pulev has other plans.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zhilei Zhang welcomes Moses Itauma fight: Send contract, I’ll sign it

Zhilei Zhang is leaving no stone left unturned in hopes of landing a desirable dance partner for his next fight.

Days after calling out fellow-aging heavyweight contender Derek Chisora, the 42-year-old Zhang is reaching for the other side of the age spectrum for a clash against 20-year-old Moses Itauma.

“Moses Itauma is a great fighter. I watched a couple of his fights, and he knocked out Dillian Whyte in one round. He was fantastic. But for the time being, right now, we haven’t received anything from Itauma in terms of fighting him,” Zhang told allegedly.

When Zhang was asked if he’s ready and willing to take on the fast-rising heavyweight phenom in Itauma, he replied: “Anyone who wants to fight me. I want to see that contract. I will sign it.”

Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KOs) has enjoyed a series of big-time fights over the last three years. His resume includes knockout wins versus Deontay Wilder and twice against Joe Joyce, as well as close decision losses against Joseph Parker and Filip Hrgovic. The Chinese southpaw "Big Bang" Zhang suffered a sixth-round knockout loss against Agit Kabayel last time out in February.

Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) – The Ring’s 2024 Prospect of the Year – is set to headline a Queensberry Promotions show at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England, on December 13 and is still looking for an opponent following his blistering knockout of Whyte in August.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zhang is just calling them all out

[gilgamesh]

Zhang is just calling them all out

As well he should. It's now or never for him. I hope someone takes him up on it. Preferably Chisora.

[joshj909]

Heavyweights Kubrat Pulev, Murat Gassiev Will Square Off Dec. 12

Pulev has other plans.

That's actually an interesting fight

[Ruthless-RKO]

Moses Itauma "unlikely" to fight on December 13 if Kubrat Pulev fight can't be agreed without purse bids

Moses Itauma remains without an opponent for December 13 – and could be left without a fight altogether, at least on that date. Boxing Scene has confirmed that the WBA has ordered its “World” heavyweight titlist, Kubrat Pulev to next defend his secondary belt against the 20-year-old southpaw. A ruling called for a 30-day negotiation period to begin on Wednesday, with the two sides granted until November 14 to reach a deal.

It provides a tight window for Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs), to move forward with his previously announced December 13 headliner in Manchester, England. A source close to negotiations confirmed to BS that efforts will be made to make the fight but the situation regarding Itauma’s December date remains unclear for now. If the contest can be agreed without purse bids, then the option to fight someone other than Pulev on that date remains. Should purse bids be required, Itauma fighting before the end of the year is “unlikely”.

Itauma – the UK-based 2024 Prospect of the Year – is represented by Hall of Fame promoter allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions. Bulgaria’s Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs) – who, at 44, is more than double Itauma’s senior – fights under Ivaylo Gotzev’s Epic Sports and Entertainment.

The ruling also puts an end to the WBA’s failed four-man box-off intended to create a final mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs). Neither of its two separately ordered bouts from earlier ever saw the light of day.

Pulev, 44, was previously ordered to next face Michael Hunter, 24-2-2 (17 KOs), who has moved in every direction except for the fight that was supposed to take place. The matter went to a purse bid hearing, which was won by Hall of Fame promoter Don King, who submitted $1,100,000 with plans to stage the fight in August.

The date was then moved to October, but already in jeopardy when Hunter opted to instead face Jarrell Miller on a September 11 show in Las Vegas preceding the September 13 Terence Crawford-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez Netflix event. Hunter-Miller never made its way to the schedule, however, for a variety of reasons and legal issues.

Hunter not only remains without a fight but was also relieved of his place as mandatory challenger.

“Because the WBA did not receive congruent contracts from Pulev and Hunter… and Hunter decided to engage in a different bout than the one subject to the award, Pulev is no longer required to fight Hunter to retain his WBA title,” WBA Championship Committee chairman Carlos Chavez informed all parties. “The WBA relieves Pulev of any obligation to engage in a title defense bout with Hunter and rescinds the Pulev-Hunter bid award.”

The ruling came at a cost, however.

Pulev was initially permitted to enter a voluntary defense of the secondary title he claimed in a 12-round decision win over Mahmoud Charr last December at home in Sofia, Bulgaria. His failure to secure such a fight in a timely fashion prompted the WBA to keep the line moving, particularly since Itauma – its new No. 1 contender – remains without an opponent.

Itauma hoped to fight for a third time in 2025 following his four-win 2024 campaign which saw him honored globally as the sport’s top prospect. He hasn’t quite kept the momentum going from that run, though the talented knockout artist is coming off a 1st round knockout of a faded Dillian Whyte on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Along with the Pulev-Hunter fallout, the WBA also plans scuttled for an ordered interim fight between Miller and unbeaten Fabio Wardley. The fight was intended to take place on June 7 – and the show went on, just without Miller who was replaced by Justis Huni.

Wardley, 19-0-1 (18 KOs), was being outfought by the ambitious Australian before he rallied to score a highlight reel, 10th round knockout.

The win allowed the 30-year-old late bloomer to claim an interim belt, which he risks in an October 25 showdown with fellow top heavyweight Joseph Parker, 36-3 (24 KOs), in London.

All told, the WBA still remains with three versions of its heavyweight title, with Usyk recognized as the true champ. Parker-Wardley comes with the promise from the WBO that the winner will be immediately instructed to next face Usyk.

Should the Pulev-Itauma fight move forward, it remains unclear what awaits the victor other than to wait out the bigger picture.

[tony1234]

Some casual fans are a bit more than casual..

They see through the regular bullshit.

Moses would do well on BBC.

He’s hidden behind a paywall behind another paywall currently.

If he walked up the street how many would recognise him ? Very few

[keithmoonhangover]

The Regular title means jack sh*t to absolutely everyone.

The European title means more

Now now, sir. Pulev beat the Manuel 'Diamond Boy' Charr to win that title.

[joshj909]

The Regular title means jack sh*t to absolutely everyone.

The European title means more

The problem is, the promoters call them world champions and most people know absolutely jack shit about regular and world and interim belts and just hear champion and believe it.

[Taansend]

Moses Itauma "unlikely" to fight on December 13 if Kubrat Pulev fight can't be agreed without purse bids

Itauma – the UK-based 2024 Prospect of the Year – is represented by Hall of Fame promoter allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions. Bulgaria’s Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs) – who, at 44, is more than double Itauma’s senior – fights under Ivaylo Gotzev’s Epic Sports and Entertainment.

Was this article written by Jake Donovan?

He's a good writer but he has a habit of calling British fighters "UK based". He did it with Buatsi as well.

They're fornicating British, Jake. They may have been born elsewhere but if you move to England as a kid, go to school there, grow up there, become a teen then a young man there you are British/English/Londoner/Whatever.

It's fornicating disrespectful to call Moses or Joshua "UK based".

[Ruthless-RKO]

Why does he do that?

Was Marku UK based? Or was he British?

[Taansend]

Why does he do that?

Was Marku UK based? Or was he British?

Did Marku move to the UK as a child?

As far as I know both the fighters I mentioned moved to the UK before their 5th birthday.

I'd say that makes them more than "UK based".

A load of my mates, when I was growing up in the 70s & 80s, were born in the Caribbean, Africa or South Asia. They were still as much a Londoner as I was. In fact, they're still there. I ain't.

[londonwar]

Moses Itauma "unlikely" to fight on December 13 if Kubrat Pulev fight can't be agreed without purse bids

Itauma – the UK-based 2024 Prospect of the Year – is represented by Hall of Fame promoter allegedly’s Queensberry Promotions. Bulgaria’s Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs) – who, at 44, is more than double Itauma’s senior – fights under Ivaylo Gotzev’s Epic Sports and Entertainment.

Was this article written by Jake Donovan?

He's a good writer but he has a habit of calling British fighters "UK based". He did it with Buatsi as well.

They're fornicating British, Jake. They may have been born elsewhere but if you move to England as a kid, go to school there, grow up there, become a teen then a young man there you are British/English/Londoner/Whatever.

It's fornicating disrespectful to call Moses or Joshua "UK based".

'disrespectful' is one word

[gilgamesh]

The Regular title means jack sh*t to absolutely everyone.

The European title means more

The problem is, the promoters call them world champions and most people know absolutely jack shit about regular and world and interim belts and just hear champion and believe it.

I mean I work with casual fans that really only know a handful of names in the sport, and even one of those casual fans recognized the fact that "Tank" Davis was never a "Real World Champion" as he put it.

So I think a lot of people know more than you realize.

Casual fans tend to be only interested in a handful of fighters, but they're not completely oblivious to what that handful of fighters is up to.

More often than not if you're competing for a bogus title, the commentary team will likely point out at some point who the real Champion is, for the sake of promotion in a later match.