Itauma’s Return Pushed To February Amid WBA Confusion

The highly anticipated December return of British-Nigerian heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma has been officially postponed to February 7, a delay stemming directly from the WBA’s tangled handling of the title picture around Kubrat Pulev.

Itauma, the 20-year-old phenom ranked No. 9 by The Ring, was in a mandatory position to challenge Pulev for the WBA “regular” title, with a November 14 deadline for negotiations. However, the boxing landscape shifted abruptly the very next day. The IBA (affiliated with the WBA) announced that Pulev would instead face former champion Murat Gassiev on December 12, with a press release bluntly titled: “Moses Must Wait.”

This move has thrown Itauma’s immediate future into uncertainty. According to sources cited by BoxingScene, the sanctioning body should strip Pulev of his title if the Gassiev fight proceeds, a sentiment that highlights the frustration surrounding the situation.

The path to this delay has been convoluted. Pulev was initially granted a voluntary defense, but after inactivity, the WBA first ordered a fight with Michael Hunter. When that fell through, Itauma, fresh off a explosive first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte, was elevated to the top contender spot.

Now, instead of preparing for a headline bout in Manchester on December 13, the reigning Prospect of the Year finds himself in a holding pattern. His planned appearance on a Queensberry Promotions card, which was also to feature Derek Chisora, is now on hold.

While promoter Frank Warren has promised clarity on Itauma’s situation in the coming days, the fighter and his team are left waiting for the WBA’s next move, a frustrating pause for one of the sport’s most promising young talents.