Moses Itauma remains without an opponent for December 13 – and could be left without a fight altogether, at least on that date. BoxingScene has confirmed that the WBA has ordered its “World” heavyweight titlist, Kubrat Pulev to next defend his secondary belt against the 20-year-old southpaw. A ruling called for a 30-day negotiation period to begin on Wednesday, with the two sides granted until November 14 to reach a deal.
It provides a tight window for Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs), to move forward with his previously announced December 13 headliner in Manchester, England. A source close to negotiations confirmed to BoxingScene that efforts will be made to make the fight but the situation regarding Itauma’s December date remains unclear for now. If the contest can be agreed without purse bids, then the option to fight someone other than Pulev on that date remains. Should purse bids be required, Itauma fighting before the end of the year is “unlikely”.
Itauma – the UK-based 2024 Prospect of the Year – is represented by Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. Bulgaria’s Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs) – who, at 44, is more than double Itauma’s senior – fights under Ivaylo Gotzev’s Epic Sports and Entertainment.
The ruling also puts an end to the WBA’s failed four-man box-off intended to create a final mandatory challenger for undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, 24-0 (15 KOs). Neither of its two separately ordered bouts from earlier ever saw the light of day.
Pulev, 44, was previously ordered to next face Michael Hunter, 24-2-2 (17 KOs), who has moved in every direction except for the fight that was supposed to take place. The matter went to a purse bid hearing, which was won by Hall of Fame promoter Don King, who submitted $1,100,000 with plans to stage the fight in August.
The date was then moved to October, but already in jeopardy when Hunter opted to instead face Jarrell Miller on a September 11 show in Las Vegas preceding the September 13 Terence Crawford-Saul “Canelo” Alvarez Netflix event. Hunter-Miller never made its way to the schedule, however, for a variety of reasons and legal issues.
Hunter not only remains without a fight but was also relieved of his place as mandatory challenger.
“Because the WBA did not receive congruent contracts from Pulev and Hunter… and Hunter decided to engage in a different bout than the one subject to the award, Pulev is no longer required to fight Hunter to retain his WBA title,” WBA Championship Committee chairman Carlos Chavez informed all parties. “The WBA relieves Pulev of any obligation to engage in a title defense bout with Hunter and rescinds the Pulev-Hunter bid award.”
The ruling came at a cost, however.
Pulev was initially permitted to enter a voluntary defense of the secondary title he claimed in a 12-round decision win over Mahmoud Charr last December at home in Sofia, Bulgaria. His failure to secure such a fight in a timely fashion prompted the WBA to keep the line moving, particularly since Itauma – its new No. 1 contender – remains without an opponent.
Itauma hoped to fight for a third time in 2025 following his four-win 2024 campaign which saw him honored globally as the sport’s top prospect. He hasn’t quite kept the momentum going from that run, though the talented knockout artist is coming off a 1st round knockout of a faded Dillian Whyte on August 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Along with the Pulev-Hunter fallout, the WBA also plans scuttled for an ordered interim fight between Miller and unbeaten Fabio Wardley. The fight was intended to take place on June 7 – and the show went on, just without Miller who was replaced by Justis Huni.
Wardley, 19-0-1 (18 KOs), was being outfought by the ambitious Australian before he rallied to score a highlight reel, 10th round knockout.
The win allowed the 30-year-old late bloomer to claim an interim belt, which he risks in an October 25 showdown with fellow top heavyweight Joseph Parker, 36-3 (24 KOs), in London.
All told, the WBA still remains with three versions of its heavyweight title, with Usyk recognized as the true champ. Parker-Wardley comes with the promise from the WBO that the winner will be immediately instructed to next face Usyk.
Should the Pulev-Itauma fight move forward, it remains unclear what awaits the victor other than to wait out the bigger picture.
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