“We’re Trying to Keep Our Options Open.” Warren Explains Why Itauma Turned Down Sanchez Fight

Frank Warren, head of Queensberry Promotions and promoter of 20-year-old British Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma, has explained why they declined an IBF eliminator bout against Frank Sanchez.

“Because Moses is ranked No.1 with the WBO and WBA, and we don’t want to lose that position. If we agreed to that fight, we would lose it. We are trying to preserve our options. I have a pathway in mind for him, but I don’t want to reveal the details yet.

Until Oleksandr Usyk makes his decision, we want to ensure Moses is in the right position. A fight with Pulev would have been a good step for us. When that bout was sanctioned, we were happy — and in terms of the WBO as well. That’s where we are right now,” Warren said.

On January 24, Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) will face Jermaine Franklin.

Initially, the WBA sanctioned Itauma vs. Kubrat Pulev, but later allowed Pulev to make a voluntary defense against Murat Gassiev instead.