Promoter Frank Warren has confirmed the 21-year-old will bid to bounce back from his August defeat to Filip Hrgovic with a headline fight at some point in January, somewhere in London.

The Queensberry boss has also declared he wants Itauma to face "a name" in his first fight back, attempting a quick return to the heavyweight mix.

The Ring's No. 8 heavyweight will obviously not be facing any world champions next, nor will he face his Ben Davison-trained stablemate Fabio Wardley. The good news is these days, the heavyweight waters are deep and there is no shortage of options for the Slovakia-born Brit. Here's a top 10 ranging from sublime to the ridiculous.

Controversial though he is, there is no denying that Jarrell Miller is one of the division's biggest names. Whether he is failing multiple drug tests or having his wig punched off, there is rarely a dull moment in the world of Brooklyn’s “Big Baby”.

He is currently the WBA's No. 1-rated contender but with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fighting for that belt in Cardiff, Miller might not want to wait around. He is not stupid, and will know exactly how good Itauma is, but might just fancy the job if the money's right.

Following his knockout defeat to Frank Sanchez in May, Richard Torrez has an identical record to his fellow southpaw Itauma. They have both won 14 with 12 KOs and their sole defeat came inside the distance.

Torrez has previously spoken of his desire to face Itauma and believes his “Mexican style” would cause the Brit problems. In a busy division, this would be a “winner-stays-on” bout which makes a lot of sense.

This is a fight that has been mooted for a long time, given both have often held lofty positions with the WBO. Huni, The Ring's No. 10 heavyweight, sits bottom of their top-15 rankings after defeat by Wardley last June.

He returned with a majority decision over Frazer Clarke in April but has not boxed since, despite talks of an outing in September. The 27-year-old could be seen as the perfect option for Itauma, given he is clearly competent but not as dangerous as some other circling contenders.

This one feels like a bit of a pipe dream but you never know in this sport. There was a time when it looked as though Itauma and Anderson would become the two premier heavyweights on the planet.

That might yet happen, but both require earlier-than-expected rebuilds. Anderson has boxed just once since his stunning fifth-round defeat to Martin Bakole in August 2024. He has since signed with Queensberry but is yet to make his debut with them after injury forced him out of a scheduled May 9 clash with Sol Dacres. If the "Real Big Baby" is serious about becoming world champion, beating Itauma now would certainly prove his credentials.

I would file this in the unlikely category but no heavyweight listicle is complete these days without the good, old "Bronze Bomber". The 41-year-old kept his career alive by beating Derek Chisora on a split in April and remains one of the division's biggest names.

It seemed like he may fight Oleksandr Usyk next but those talks ended while he was also linked to a Jai Opetaia fight in Cardiff on December 11. As it stands, he has nothing booked and, in terms of securing a “name,” it wouldn’t come much bigger. They would undoubtedly sell out the O2 in January, but the only problem is—what if he catches the 21-year-old with one of those vintage right hands?

At 43, Zhilei Zhang is more than twice Itauma’s age and hasn’t boxed since February 2025, but it would not surprise me if the big man from China is in the conversation. A recognizable name with history on British shores given he knocked out Joe Joyce twice on Queensberry cards in London. They say that power is the last thing to go but you would have to pick Itauma to get his career back on track with a big win.

Former WBO heavyweight champion of the world Joseph Parker is clear to fight again following his failed test for a metabolite of cocaine. He has nothing scheduled yet and Warren suggested some news regarding a comeback is imminent. Given that a second straight defeat for Itauma is unthinkable, selecting an opponent like Parker would be considered a risk but victory would put him right back in the mix.

This would be seen as a very safe and logical option from Queensberry as they look to steer Itauma back towards the top of the division.

Guido Vianello is a capable and durable heavyweight who has only ever been stopped by the doctor. He is currently contracted to Queensberry and on the same timeline as Itauma given his last outing came on the undercard of his defeat to Hrgovic. People might be disappointed by this pick but it makes a lot of sense.

The French Olympic gold medalist ticks the name box and is also under contract with Queensberry. He was supposed to fight Lawrence Okolie in April but the fight got pulled when the Londoner failed a VADA test.

Yoka, therefore, has not boxed since December when he stopped Patrick Korte inside two minutes in Lagos, Nigeria. At 34, he may feel the time is right to roll the dice by taking on Itauma.

Itauma is desperate for another crack at IBF champion Hrgovic so, on a purely ranking basis, a clash with Bakhodir Jalolov, another Queensberry man, would make the most sense. The two-time Olympic champion is currently No. 4 with the IBF while Itauma sits at No. 7.

Above the Uzbek is Joshua, busy with Fury, at No. 3 and Sanchez, set to face Hrgovic early next year, at No. 1 while the No. 2 spot is empty. Jalolov has not put a foot wrong as a pro but he is also not the bogeyman he once was so could be considered a viable option for this January date.