The rapid rise of Moses Itauma continues, with the 20-year-old English prospect now installed as the WBA’s No. 1 heavyweight following his blistering first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte on August 16.
Itauma had previously sat at No. 2, but his destruction of the veteran vaulted him past Michael Hunter in the latest rankings released September 1. The southpaw is now the top-rated contender with both the WBA and WBO, while sitting No. 6 with the IBF and No. 9 with the WBC.
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The WBA currently lists three titleholders: Oleksandr Usyk as undisputed champion, Kubrat Pulev with the “regular” belt, and Fabio Wardley holding the interim strap. Pulev, 44, is one of the names under discussion for Itauma’s next fight, which could land before year’s end. The Bulgarian veteran captured his belt last December by outpointing Mahmoud Charr.
For Itauma, who just turned 20, the ranking is another milestone in a career that has moved at breakneck speed. With two sanctioning bodies already recognizing him as their top contender, his path toward a world title opportunity is coming into sharp focus.
Image Credit: Queensberry