In the latest boxing news today, WBO champion Fabio Wardley has said that boxing fans need to “slow it down” in regards to him facing fellow British heavyweight Moses Itauma.
Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) told The Stomping Ground: “Maybe once I’ve got two [belts] and he’s got two, then maybe we need to have a serious conversation about it.”
Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) produced a dazzling fifth round knockout performance against Jermaine Franklin Jr on Saturday in Manchester, with Wardley sat ringside.
Following the victory, WBO President Gustavo Olivieri stated on X: “In light of Moses Itauma’s current position as the #1 WBO world-rated contender, and having defeated world-rated contender Jermaine Franklin by knockout in defense of his WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight Championship, he has further affirmed his standing within the division as a rising star.
“Accordingly, I will formally recommend to the Championship Committee that Mr. Itauma be designated as the Mandatory Challenger in the WBO Heavyweight Division.”
However, the pair are stablemates both training with London based coach, Ben Davison. The predicament will leave either Wardley or Itauma looking form someone new in their corner.
Wardley has to first defend his WBO championship against Daniel Dubois on May 9 before any other British dust up.
Keith Thurman Will Not Be Retiring
Following a sixth round stoppage defeat to WBC super welterweight champion Sebastian Fundora, Keith Thurman has made it clear that he does intend on hanging up his gloves anytime soon.
Thurman (31-2, 23 KOs) put in below par performance against the towering Fundora, which saw a bloodied Thurman being pulled from the bout by the referee.
“I’ll be back, man,” Thurman said at the post fight press conference. “I want to do great things in boxing once again, and I’m gonna come back hard, I’m gonna come back strong.”
The former welterweight world champion also added: “I never got dropped in the whole fight. I’m getting caught on the back end of punches. The referee told me in the locker room, ‘show me something, move your feet, duck your head, I won’t stop the fight.’”
Canelo vs Mbilli ‘As Close As Ever’
Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is in discussions to face WBC super middleweight champion Christian Mbilli according to promoter Camille Estephan.
Canelo has not been in action since he relinquished his undisputed championship at 168 pound to Terence Crawford last year. Mbilli has since been elevated to WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement.
“It’s as close as ever,” Estephan told FightsATW. “Christian has the WBC title, and Canelo wants it back, but we don’t want to give it back.”
The Montreal based promoter also added: “We are looking at September, but nothing is finalized.”