Moses Itauma rejects IBF final eliminator vs Frank Sanchez

This. There’s already a plan to have Itauma out again later this year. Not jumping to the IBF’s recommendation for an eliminator with Sanchez is not a duck.

 

Nothing to do with not being ready for Usyk. This is a duck plain and simple.

IBF is now at the back of the rotation. Even if he got past Sanchez, which clearly they are not confident in, the IBF is currently at the back of the rotation. Usyk has to defend WBO (Parker) > WBC (Kabayel) > WBA (whoever) > then IBF. At the rate Usyk fights, Usyk will be 40+ years old, if not retired by then. And if they did want to a title shot at Usyk before his retirement, then surely holding the IBF would be a good thing.

His team don't want the Sanchez smoke.

 

It seems to be a case of musical chairs:
Final eliminator = Ajagaba v Bakole (Bakole gets pulled out to fight Parker)
Eliminator = Chisora v Wallin (Chisora is now #2, #1 is vacant)
Eliminator = Ajagba v Bakole (draw)
Eliminator = Hrgovic v Sanchez (purse bids kept getting delayed)
Eliminator = Ajagba v Sanchez (Ajagba pulls out after losing the purse bid)
Eliminator = ??? v Sanchez (Itauma rejects the opportunity)

 

Realistically thought the IBF is likely to enforce long before the other belts except for the WBO.

Historically the IBF doesn't like its heavyweight title to be undefended for even a year.

 

God, I've said it before and I'll say it again

they need to come to an agreement that these orgs have their #1s fight each other in a 4 way eliminator before becoming the mandatory for the undisputed.

 

Exactly

It's not that hard to work out

Sanchez is bang average, no need to duck him

Itauma and his team already have a route planned

 

That would mean they all lose out on the sweet sanctioning fees from the 12 different belts they all have, as well as backhanders from promoters. They can't stop the gravy train. Even if it would make the sport 10 times better.

 

You still charge them to be part of the eliminators so they make their money

 

Wilder never beat a single contender - possibly one who had been (dubious, but at least arguable) but wasn't by the time they fought.

If he hadn't held a belt, he'd be a complete irrelevance - as it stands, he's a textbook example of how an illusion can be built up by knocking out enough bums if the cheerleaders are loud enough... But there was never any proven substance behind the claims, and in the end the truth will usually out.

Wilder deserves ridicule.


If anything, I'm being unfair to Itauma by putting him in the same sentence - he's at least young as has time to go down a much better path

 

So it will likely be Michael Hunter or David Adeleye next for Itauma.

Either would be okay, but Hunter would be better.

 

I blame Warren. Itauma would probably be up for it. Warren clearly wants to wait until Usyk retires and/or loses and the belts splinter off again. Then he will put an easy one on Itauma.

 

Hype train derailed. Not saying he's not a good fighter--he obviously is. But I think it's pretty obvious that the talk of him fighting Usyk is rubbish.

 

Laughable.
For people saying he's too young, Hughie fought Parker close to that and was trying to be the youngest champ since tyson.
Go back to bullying shot contenders even Fury can one-punch.

 

Whatever anyone says this isn't a good look for Itauma. Sanchez is a good boxer, but aging and without a whole lot of power.

He definitely isn't close to Usyk, or even Parker atm, so all this talk of Itauma vs Usyk, or Parker can be put to bed, he clearly isn't ready for the step up to legit contender level yet.