Queensberry promoter Frank Warren says WBA ‘ordinary’ heavyweight champion Kubrat Pulev is next to defend against #1 Moses Itauma. The WBA ordered the fight. Warren says that if Pulev (32-3, 14 KOs) chooses to fight Murat Gassiev next on December 12, 2025, he will have a problem because the fight is not sanctioned.
The recovery route continues
Age-wise, the 44-year-old Pulev fits more into the category of older fighters that Moses Itauma has been enjoying since turning professional in 2023. The 20-year-old Itauma raided the infirmary of the convalescent homes and picked out his prey.
With the hype behind the slow-motion talking Itauma, why is he being matched exclusively against older fighters? If he’s the blue-chip prospect he’s being built up to be, why is he being matched against 40-year-olds?
Itauma’s recent opponents:
- Mariusz Wach: 44 years old
- Mike Balogun: 41
- Dan Garber: 40
- Dillian Whyte: 37
“Pulev has to fight Moses (Itauma). It’s been ordered. It’s for the regular (WBA) title. So, it puts him (Itauma) in a good position, and we’re in the process of hopefully getting that sorted out or we’re going to purse bids,” promoter Frank Warren said. tallkSport Boxing about his plans to move Moses Itauma towards a title shot against the WBA’s regular heavyweight champion, Kubrat Pulev, next.
Warren sounds like he’s convinced Itauma dethroning WBA regular heavyweight champion Pulev is the golden ticket for him to position Moses for a fight against Oleksandr Usyk. It might not work because it’s too easy and doesn’t require risk on Itauma’s part. Pulev recently lost to journeyman Derek Chisora via a 12-round split decision on July 9, 2022. He looked painfully slow and lost to Chisora.
Questioning Itauma’s easy route
“They announced it but it wasn’t approved by the WBA,” Warren said of Pulev defending against Murat Gassiev on Dec. 12, 2025. “And if he (Pulev) continues with that, he will have a problem because they have already asked for the fight against Moses and have a problem with us.”
Wardley’s blueprint ignored
If Warren wanted to strengthen Itauma’s position to get a fight against Oleksandr Usyk, he should have had him follow the same path as Fabio Wardley by fighting top level fighters, such as Joseph Parker and Frank Sanchez.
“We don’t know where we are with that. We have to sort it out with Pulev. See where we are first,” Warren said when asked if Itauma is still fighting on Dec. 13.
DAZN needs a fresh headliner
It will be great for the December 13 Derek Chisora vs. Dillian Whyte trilogy event if Moses Itauma is included on the card as the headliner against 44-year-old Kubrat Pulev, or, preferably, a younger fighter with more talent, such as Frank Sanchez.
Given that the December 13th event will be broadcast on DAZN PPV, a viable younger fighter with talent should be in the main role, not the faded craftsmen Chisora and Whyte. Pulev is not someone the British boxing public or American fans are interested in paying to see Itauma fight.
Last updated on 26/10/2025
