Moses Itauma Open To Deontay Wilder Fight After Win

Heavyweight contender weighs risk-reward for summer return with mandatory position already secured

Moses Itauma says a fight with Deontay Wilder could be considered as he lines up his next move at heavyweight. The 21-year-old is already in the WBO mandatory position but is weighing options for a summer return.

Itauma stopped Jermaine Franklin last month and has since moved into mandatory position with the WBO, putting him close to a title shot against the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois. Even with that route available, other options are being discussed for a summer return.

One of those names is Wilder, who recently returned to the win column against Derek Chisora and remains one of the division’s biggest punchers.

Asked about a possible meeting, Itauma said the decision would come down to whether the reward matches the danger.

“If he wins, yeah. You’ve got to kind of weigh up the risk to reward. What do you gain from fighting him?” Itauma said to DAZN.

Itauma also made clear that Wilder’s reputation still carries weight despite recent setbacks.

“He is a legend in the sport, and I do respect him, but you need to weigh up the pros and cons.”

At 21, Itauma is moving toward the stage where prospect fights end, and real tests begin. Wilder may no longer be in his peak years, but the power remains the kind of threat that can change quickly one night.

A July return is expected for Itauma, and whoever gets the call should reveal how aggressive his team plans to be with the next step.

For Itauma, the danger is the one shot he doesn’t see coming. On the positive side. If Itauma destroys Wilder, he becomes the biggest thing in the sport overnight. Stopping a former champion who has only been finished by Fury and Zhang would catapult him past the prospect conversation and straight into the elite tier.

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