Usyk, the Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC heavyweight champion, has outlined his final three fights, but neither Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) nor Kabayel were on his radar. With their omission, Itauma said he’s more than willing to face Kabayel (27-0, 19 KOs) in his home country sooner than later.

“Me and Kabayel in the summer,” Itauma said on Inside The Ring. “I don’t mind. I love Germany as well, so I don’t mind going to Germany and fighting him.“

Itauma was quick to catch himself before he got too carried away talking about a potential fight against Kabayel, 33. The 21-year-old phenom faces Jermaine Franklin in a 10-round bout in the main event of a Queensberry Promotions card on Saturday at Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, England, on DAZN (1 p.m. ET).

Itauma and Franklin were originally scheduled to fight January 24, but a Grade 2 biceps tear forced the former’s withdrawal and led to the entire card being postponed.

Itauma, The Ring’s No. 7 heavyweight and the youngest fighter to be ranked inside the top 10 since Mike Tyson in 1986, has quickly cemented himself as one of boxing’s most exciting talents. He hasn’t fought beyond the second round in his last nine fights, and is coming off a first-round stoppage of former title challenger Dillian Whyte in August.

Theoretically, a bout between Itauma and Kayabel should be easy to make with both fighters being promoted by Queensberry. Any hopes of that fight being on the table will depend on how Itauma handles a tricky veteran such as Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs). His lone defeats were by unanimous decision to Whyte and two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua.

Franklin is coming off a forgettable unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Ivan Dychko.

“The whole reason why we got Jermaine Franklin is because he took Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte’s best shots and still kept coming back,” Itauma said. “We’ll see if he can do the same for me.”