“After this fight, Moses is fighting against Usyk. We can be sold out like that, it could do massive, massive numbers,” said Warren to iFL TV. “The WBC is the subsequent one. If he doesn’t fight him, then he’s going to need to vacate it. If he does come through… that’ll determine whether he fights for the world title this 12 months.”
The maths just doesn’t favor Itauma if he’s chasing Usyk specifically. As of March 2026, Usyk has been incredibly vocal about his “three and out” plan. He isn’t just searching for fights; he’s searching for a legacy-defining exit.
Usyk’s Final Three-Fight Plan
Fight 1: Rico Verhoeven (May 23, 2026): That is the immediate hurdle. Despite the fact that it’s a crossover fight, the WBC has sanctioned it as a voluntary defense.
Fight 2: Wardley-Dubois Winner: Usyk wants the winner of the May 9 clash to further unify or defend his status against the highest of the subsequent British generation.
Fight 3: Tyson Fury III: The “Greedy Belly” trilogy is the grand finale Usyk wants at Wembley to shut the book.
Why Itauma is probably going out of luck. For Itauma to get Usyk, certainly one of two things has to occur, and neither looks likely:
1. The WBC forces a Mandatory: Even when Itauma beats Franklin this Saturday and wins a final eliminator later this 12 months, the WBC has already ruled that the Usyk-Verhoeven winner must face interim champ Agit Kabayel next. That pushes another mandatory back to 2027—past Usyk’s retirement date.
2. Usyk changes his mind: Usyk is 39. He’s already achieved undisputed status twice. There may be very little incentive for him to take a high-risk, lower-reward fight against a 21-year-old powerhouse like Itauma when he may very well be relaxing in Kyiv.
The Reality for Itauma. His best likelihood at a world title is by fighting for the vacant belts once Usyk retires. If Usyk beats Fury within the trilogy and hangs them up, those titles will scatter. As the present WBA and WBO #1, Itauma can be first in line to fight for those vacant straps, likely against whoever is left standing between Wardley, Dubois, or Kabayel.
Frank Warren is pushing the “world title in 2026” narrative to maintain the hype constructing, but unless Usyk’s retirement plan falls apart, Itauma is chasing a ghost.
