British heavyweight contender Moses Itauma has been ordered to enter negotiations with Cuba’s Frank Sanchez for a fight to crown the new IBF heavyweight champion.
The opportunity emerged after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his IBF, WBA ‘super’ and WBC heavyweight titles last week, opening the door for the division’s leading contenders to compete for the vacant championship.
The IBF confirmed that, under its championship rules, top-ranked Frank Sanchez has been instructed to face third-ranked Itauma. Both camps have until 29 July to reach an agreement for the title bout.
Itauma, 21, is currently due to face Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic at London’s O2 Arena on 29 August, a contest he has described as the toughest test of his career. However, the possibility of fighting for the IBF belt could alter those plans, with the unbeaten Briton able to either withdraw from the Hrgovic bout or challenge Sanchez afterward.
Itauma strengthened his growing reputation in March by stopping American Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round in Manchester, extending his unbeaten record and moving closer to a world title shot.
While the IBF is working to fill its vacant championship, the WBC has already promoted interim champion Agit Kabayel to full world champion following Usyk’s decision to relinquish its belt.
Usyk, who had been expected to defend against Kabayel after receiving an exemption to fight Rico Verhoeven in May, is now free to pursue any opponent without mandatory title commitments.