Former two-weight world champion Lawrence Okolie has called-out Moses Itauma for a huge all-British heavyweight clash.
Itauma is looking for his next challenge following his one round demolition of Dillian Whyte, with Okolie throwing his name in the hat to face the 20-year-old next.
Lawrence Okolie Calls-Out Moses Itauma
Former world champion Lawrence Okolie has officially called-out Moses Itauma to fight him next.
Fresh of the back of his one round knockout of Dillian Whyte in Saudi Arabia on August 16, fans are speculating who the 20-year-old should fight next.
Several names have been mentioned, one of which is Okolie. To add to that, ‘The Sauce’ himself has revealed he is open to the fight and is willing to step in the ring with the 13-0 heavyweight prospect next.
Former GB Olympian Anthony Fowler once spoke of Itauma ‘winding’ Okolie when the pair sparred at Shane McGuigan’s gym several years ago, with Itauma reportedly just 16-year-old at the time.
Whether or not these rumours are true, a real fight under the bright lights may materialise between the pair next.
If it does, boxing betting sites would undoubtedly list Itauma as a relatively heavy pre-fight favourite to beat the former WBO World Cruiserweight Champion. Not only that, but given his performances of late, Itauma would likely be odds on to win inside the distance too.
An Itauma vs Okolie clash is certainly a main event, perhaps at the O2 Arena in London. If not a main event in London, then the prospective all-British heavyweight fight would certainly be an adequate co-main event or chief support to a world title fight somewhere in Saudi.
His Excellency Turki Alalshikh is the man that could make this fight happen. Both Itauma and Okolie are now signed to Frank Warren’s Queensberry too, meaning a fight between the pair would be easy to make on paper at least.
Following Okolie’s call-out of Itauma, it seems this fight is a genuine possibility next. That’s unless Itauma gets his shot at world honours, after Oleksandr Usyk responded to Itauma’s call-out.
Okolie Open To Moses Itauma Clash Next
In a post-fight interview with Boxing News on Saturday night in Riyadh, Lawrence Okolie made it abundantly clear that he wants to fight Moses Itauma next.
Now playing his trade in boxing’s glamour division, Okolie has his sights firmly set on an all-British showdown with Queensberry stablemate Itauma.
“100%, [I would fight him],” Okolie told Boxing News.
“If there was a time, then it would be sooner rather than later with someone like Moses.
“The fact is, he has been gifted since he was young, but what you don’t want to do is get [in there with] someone who is gifted and experienced.
‘By the time he’s 25, he is going to be unbelievable. If there is a time to sneak in and ‘old man’ him, it’s now,” the former WBO cruiserweight and WBC bridgerweight world champion concluded.
Time will tell whether or not Lawrence Okolie’s next fight is indeed against Moses Itauma, or if there will be other match-ups made for the pair.
Even if they don’t fight each other next, Itauma and Okolie could be on a collision course for a super-fight down the line. Perhaps even with a world heavyweight title belt on the line.
