In a stunning turn of events, IBA president Albert Siesta has publicly accused Moses Itauma’s team of evading a potential bout with the newly crowned WBA ‘Regular’ heavyweight champion, Murat Gassiev. The controversy stems from Gassiev’s impressive sixth-round knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev in Dubai last month, a fight that should have set the stage for a showdown with Itauma.
The WBA has since ordered Itauma to face Gassiev, but according to Siesta, Itauma’s team has gone eerily silent. Speaking in an exclusive interview, Siesta expressed his frustration, stating, “There was a clear order from the WBA for Moses Itauma to face the winner of Pulev vs Gassiev. There was a lot of talk from Queensberry Promotions, but since Gassiev’s dominant performance, it’s all gone quiet.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Siesta revealed that there are now whispers of a potential matchup between Itauma and Lawrence Okolie. The WBC has recently mandated Itauma to face Okolie in a final eliminator for the belt currently held by Oleksandr Usyk. Okolie, in a recent statement, expressed his enthusiasm for the possible fight, saying, “Two Nigerians getting it on — it’s going to be amazing. I wish Moses Itauma luck in his fight against Franklin, and then after that, we’ve been mandated to box for the final eliminator for the world title.”
Siesta, however, believes that Itauma’s team is deliberately avoiding Gassiev due to his formidable reputation. “For me, this is no coincidence,” Siesta said. “They would have jumped at the chance to face a 44-year-old Kubrat Pulev, but a prime, heavy-hitter like Murat Gassiev? I know the game, and I can see why Frank Warren would not want to put his ‘Golden Boy’ in with Murat. We take it as a compliment!”
Itauma, who last fought in August with a spectacular first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte, is scheduled to return to the ring in a few weeks against the experienced Jermaine Franklin at the AO Arena in Manchester. This will mark his first time headlining in the UK. Franklin, who has gone the distance with both Whyte and two-time heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, is expected to provide a tough test for the 20-year-old prospect.
The situation has left boxing fans and analysts alike speculating about the future of Itauma’s career. Will he rise to the challenge and face Gassiev, or will his team continue to seek alternative paths to a world title? One thing is certain: the heavyweight division is heating up, and the decisions made in the coming months could shape the landscape of boxing for years to come.
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