Moses Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in Manchester as debate intensifies after figures argued usyk would avoid matching with him. Frank Warren, the promoter who spoke in Manchester, called the proposal “risk vs. reward” and said a Usyk meeting “would sell out Wembley” while suggesting Usyk “doesn’t want” the fight. Steve Bunce, a boxing commentator, warned the idea is “ridiculous” and judged Itauma not yet ready to take on the world’s best heavyweights.
Why Usyk choice fuels the divide
Promotional math points to huge commercial upside, but veteran voices stress the competitive risk. Frank Warren framed the choice bluntly as “risk vs. reward, ” arguing the financial payoff would be enormous yet the downside for the champion is greater. Critics note that usyk is shaping a path that prioritizes lower-risk matchups, including a planned event for the WBC title on May 23 (ET), and that strategy has hardened views about whom the champion will face next. Observers note usyk’s opponent choices are reshaping expectations about passing the torch to a young prospect.
Immediate reactions
Moses Itauma, 21-year-old heavyweight (13-0, 11 KOs), expressed frustration at the sanctioning body’s decision to allow a non-traditional opponent into a world-title role and at the shrinking prospect of a Usyk meeting. “Probably not, ” Itauma said when asked whether the match will ever happen, adding, “We don’t cry over spilled milk. We just keep it stepping. ” Frank Warren told media the bout would sell out Wembley and bluntly suggested that “Usyk doesn’t want to fight Moses because of whatever it is. ” Steve Bunce, commenting on the timing for a young prospect, called calls for an early title shot “ridiculous” and stressed that usyk-level risks are not the same for a fighter with just 13 professional fights. Itauma has also criticized the sanctioning decision as “a bit crazy, ” arguing the pathway to a world title should be more strictly policed.
What’s next
Saturday’s fight against Jermaine Franklin in Manchester is framed by many as a real test for Itauma; a dominant win could reopen conversations about big-match jump opportunities. Yet the combination of Warren’s commercial caution and Bunce’s timing argument means the path to a usyk showdown looks complicated. The boxing calendar, including the May 23 (ET) Usyk-Verhoeven event, will shape timelines and could make a usyk vs Itauma match harder to schedule; expect negotiations and public debate to continue as the division watches whether the champion’s choices close that door or allow a future meeting.
