- Moses Itauma has slammed the WBC sanctioning decision that allows kickboxer Rico Verhoeven to fight Usyk for a world title in his first pro boxing bout
- Itauma says he respects Usyk as a once-in-a-generation fighter and would take the fight in a heartbeat — but the sanctioning call makes no boxing sense
- Usyk has publicly responded by calling Itauma "the future of boxing," in a respectful exchange that makes the heavyweights ducking Itauma look worse
Itauma Finally Says What Everyone's Thinking
Right then. Moses Itauma has had enough, and I don't blame him one bit. The young British heavyweight has condemned the WBC for rubber-stamping Oleksandr Usyk vs Rico Verhoeven as a world title fight on May 23 in Egypt. In Itauma's words it's "crazy" to let a kickboxer challenge for a heavyweight world title in his very first professional boxing contest. Make no mistake — he's absolutely right.
"Usyk has earned the right to do whatever he wants, but I don't think it's correct for Rico to be able to fight for the world title in his first fight," Itauma said. That's a measured, classy line from a young fighter who could have come out swinging far harder. Respect for Usyk, criticism for the alphabet body. That's exactly how it should be delivered.
The Case Against the Sanctioning
Let's be honest about what's going on here. The WBC has sanctioned a fight between the best heavyweight on the planet and a man who has never had a professional boxing fight. Not one. Verhoeven is a brilliant kickboxer, a legend of his own sport, and nobody's taking that away from him. But kickboxing and boxing are levels apart at the highest level. Different punches, different defence, different rhythm, different everything.
Meanwhile, the actual contenders in the heavyweight division are being told to wait their turn. Itauma has been building his case in the ring, and he's the mandatory. So how can a novice professional boxer leapfrog a mandatory contender? The sanctioning bodies take a lot of stick, and a lot of the time it's deserved. This is one of those times.
Usyk's Classy Response
Here's where it gets interesting. When Usyk was asked about Itauma's callout on a recent FaceTime, he didn't duck or dismiss. Quite the opposite. "Great man, great fight. I think Itauma is the future of boxing. I like this guy." That's proper respect, and it's the kind of thing that makes Usyk the champion he is. He sees Itauma for what he is — the next big thing in the division — and he says it openly.
That response actually makes the Verhoeven fight look even stranger. Usyk clearly rates Itauma. So why is he not fighting him? Politics, paydays, promotional alignments — the usual suspects. None of it adds up to good sport.
Itauma Staying Patient
What I love about Itauma in all of this is his composure. He could easily have gone full tantrum mode — lots of fighters would — but instead he's playing it smart. He told the press: "Usyk's a once-in-a-generation fighter and I'd love to have the opportunity, but if I don't, what am I supposed to do? If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, it doesn't."
That's a proper heavyweight mindset. He announced himself by stopping Jermaine Franklin, he's the mandatory, and he's going to keep building his record while the politics sort themselves out. Class.
My Take
I'm not going to sit on the fence here. The WBC have got this wrong. Usyk is legitimately the finest heavyweight of the modern era and he's earned the right to big event fights, fair enough. But sanctioning a kickboxer's first ever pro boxing match as a world title fight undermines the very concept of a mandatory challenger. Itauma has every right to be frustrated.
The good news? The truth plays out in the ring eventually. Itauma beats whoever he needs to beat, and sooner rather than later he gets his shot. When he does, he levels whichever heavyweight is in front of him. He's got the speed, the timing, and the poise. The kid's a brilliant fighter. The WBC can dodge him for now. The division can't dodge him forever.