WBO President Gustavo Olivieri revealed tonight that Moses Itauma was elevated to #1 on the heavyweight rankings with their organization after his second round victory over the unknown Mike Balogun Saturday night in Glasgow, Scotland.
Fans on social media are critical of the WBO’s decision and consider it bizarre and a sign of Itauma receives favorable by their organization for not beating any contenders. His 12 wins have come to lower-level fighters, and he still has to fight against a top-15 contender. He looked complacent in the ring after his fight.
Itauma’s controversy
This is another reason why the sanction bodies should be phased out of box and replaced by a ranking that makes logical choices. How on earth is Moses Itauma at the point 1 after beating nothing tomato bins His entire career of two years? Does it ask too much for Itauma to defeat two of these killers to earn his number 1 ranking with the WBO?
– Joseph Parker
– Agit Kabayel
– Richard Torrez
– Bakhodir Jalalov
– Filip Hrgovic
– Martin Bakole
The way Itauma acted against this person, Balogun, he lost on the entire list. This is just a short list of contenders who would beat Itauma.
It makes little sense for the 20-year-old Itauma to stand with the WBO because he has no victories over contenders. Usually it is a requirement that a fighter is moved to the number 1 position. They have at least one or two solid wins over fighters from the top level.
Itauma seems to have been rushed to the top and skipped the part where it is supposed to beat contenders to earn the number 1 rankings. If the idea is to put him quickly #1 so he can get a fight against Oleksandr utility before retiring, it’s a waste of time.
USYK will not fight against him because he is only interested in fighting Daniel Dubois and Tyson Fury before retiring. He will not give an undeserved fighter like Itauma a world title.
In tonight’s fight, Itauma (12-0, 10 COs) destroyed the 36-year-old footballer Balogun (21-2, 16 COs), who has never strikingly striking. His previous defeat on his resume was a knockout of the second round by Murat Gasiev in 2023. This was another example of Itauma that matched a non-contender.
Martin Bakole’s criticism
“Yes, he did well but they found him someone who is a bum,” Martin Bakole said Box sociallyRespond to Moses Itauma’s victory over Mike Balogun on Saturday night.
“At the high level, they have to give him a good test because it is not Moses who Martin Bakole mentions that he is fighting a bum like this. He must fight quality people and try to test himself if he wants to become a world champion tomorrow.
“I never mention his name. I don’t know who he is, “Bakole said when he said itauma was watching his battles, saying that he looked like trash. “I think about getting five or six. I don’t know if he is a top 10, top 20 but he is a boxer, a heavyweight
Moses Itauma climbed on the WBO ranking with talent, discipline and electrifying performances. Now the no. 1-world-reviewed heavyweight contender, his moment closer. It’s just a matter of time before he gets his lap and the world sees a new star appearing. #Newera @Shoe
– Gustavo Olivieri, ESQ. (@Olivieriilaw) 24 May 2025
Last updated on 05/24/2025
