2 hrs ago
2 min read
MANCHESTER, England - Frank Warren believes that a fight between unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, and his 21-year-old sensation Moses Itauma has become one of boxing's biggest events.
On Saturday night, Itauma’s first headline appearance in the UK attracted a large crowd to Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena and he passed his toughest test to date by stopping Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round.
Usyk (24-0, 15 KOs) currently has other business to attend to.
The two-time undisputed heavyweight champion and current holder of The Ring title is preparing to box Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven in the shadow of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt on May 23 but will then turn his attention back to a lengthening list of contenders who are waiting in line for shots at his WBA, IBF and WBC titles.
Now 39 years old, the great Ukrainian has admitted that he is in the final furlong of his career and that whilst he is interested in big fights and big names, his exit strategy doesn’t currently include a fight with Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) as he doesn’t want to “break” the younger man.
Hall-of-Fame promoter Warren believes that Itauma’s blistering form has made a cross-generational clash between the two one of the most high-profile fights available to Usyk.
“I like Oleks,” Warren said after seeing Itauma take out Franklin.
“Look at him and look at the belts he's got. Look at his resume. He’s fighting a kickboxer next time for money in Egypt and good luck to him.
“He wants big fights. That's what he's saying, isn't he? Do you not think we'd sell Wembley out with Moses and Usyk? We'd sell it out five or six times over right this minute and the pay-per-view, the viewing figures, would go through the roof.”
Usyk may soon be forced into a decision over fighting Itauma who currently sits at No. 1 in the WBA rankings, No. 3 with the WBC and No. 11 with the IBF. The Ring have him positioned at No. 7.
Over the course of his 45-year long career, Warren has proven to be a master of moving fighters into position and then choosing the ideal moment to strike.
Itauma has been on an accelerated path to the top but after seeing the way he dealt with Franklin, Warren would be comfortable in letting him off the leash against the best heavyweight of his era.
“Yeah. I'm sort of very careful with what I do with fighters as you know but yes, I would make that fight now,” he said.
“Styles make fights. He's got youth, speed. Oleks is a great, great fighter ... I think this young man is something extra special."
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