Following a recent order from the WBA that their secondary heavyweight champion Kubrat Pulev must defend the oft-derided belt against Moses Itauma, the young British contender will now likely next fight on February 7 against an opponent to be decided. Itauma had been expected to star on the December 13 show in Manchester, topped by Derek Chisora in his final outing.
During an eventful 24-hour period last week, the WBA ordered that Itauma was next for Pulev, only for an announcement to follow from the IBA – who are affiliated with the WBA – that stated the veteran would instead defend against Murat Gassiev on December 12 in Dubai.
“That fight [Pulev-Gassiev] has not been ordered by the WBA,” a source close to the situation told BoxingScene. “If Pulev does fight Gassiev, then the WBA should strip him.”
The sanctioning body had permitted Pulev to make a voluntary defense after he claimed the title from Mahmoud Charr last December but, due to the Bulgarian veteran’s failure to organise such a contest within a reasonable period, the WBA opted to enforce the fight with Itauma, their No. 1 contender. In the initial order, the WBA stated that the teams of Pulev and Itauma had until November 14 to strike a deal before it was put out to purse bids. Itauma will now wait and see what the WBA choose to do regarding Pulev fighting Gassiev instead.
The situation with the WBA secondary title – known as the ‘regular’ strap but officially named the ‘world’ title – has been chaotic since the inception of the WBA ‘super’ title in 2011, with the likes of Charr, Lucas Browne and Trevor Bryan among former holders. Yet the belt can lead to big things, as Daniel Dubois proved when he ousted Bryan in 2022 to set up his first shot at Oleksandr Usyk the following year. Itauma, like Dubois, is guided by Queensberry Promotions who still intend to trigger the 20-year-old's right for a shot.
Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs), last fought in August when he knocked out Dillian Whyte, an opponent now in the running to face Chisora on December 13, in the opening round.
