Looking at the quality of the 2 fighters fighting for the british heavyweight title today it’s makes me wonder why Warren doesn’t have Itauma fighting for it? It should easy work for him an yeah I know he’s got his eyes on a world title shot soon but don’t been brit champion first mean anything to british fighters anymore? Saying that it’s makes me wonder itauma is actually a brit isn’t he? don’t know that much about his background but I do know neither of his parents are british an he wasn’t born in britain so even though everyone says he’s a brit is he actually eligible to fight for the British belt?
Should be easy work... Famous last words right there Its just not worth the market value loss should they lose. Sights, more specifically earnings goals are set higher and the team will do everything they can to push Itauma towards that. Why risk a mid journey upset when you can keep maximising the revenue? Everyone at HW can be dangerous, even a supposedly complete mismatch. Just ask AJ. Avoid the risk and keep the royal portraits rolling
The issue with fighters like Itauma is the amount of money an opponent would demand to be paid. Given they are highly likely to suffer an early KO loss, that would jeopardise their future earning potential they would expect a premium. Especially if it’s another British fighter. Therefore you are far more likely to see Itauma facing American sparring partner or middling European level fighters, who won’t be demanding a ridiculous premium.
Once Ituama is the first to stop Franklin, and he will be, I wonder if they try to do a more marketable step up -- Andy Ruiz. A former HW champ who is well past his best and unlikely to win, but likely to at least last a few rounds seems like a perfect choice. The only other one hanging out there like that is Wilder, except between Wilder and Ruiz, Wilder has made WAY more money so it would take a lot more to get him to risk it. Could probably get Ruiz in there for a few mil.
