Lawrence Okolie would accept a final eliminator against Moses Itauma

Moses Itauma and Lawrence Okolie could meet, according to Joe Gallagher

Yesterday, December 3, it was revealed that the WBC have ordered a final eliminator bout between Moses Itauma and Lawrence Okolie. 

Both men are relative newcomers to the heavyweight division, with Itauma (13-0, 11 KO’s) just 13 fights into his professional career, while Okolie (22-1, 16 KO’s) only recently made the jump up to the division following world title success at cruiserweight.

Itauma is due to make his ring return on January 24 against Jermaine Franklin following a hard-fought battle to find an opponent, which saw him delay his original December 19 return plans. 

Okolie, on the other hand, is due to fight soon, facing off against an unnamed opponent in Nigeria on December 19.

Should both men come through unscathed, they will be on the verge of a world title shot; as a result, a clash between the two seems to make perfect sense.

"I petitioned for him to be made mandatory [challenger],” Joe Gallagher, Okolie’s trainer, told Sky Sports.

“Kabayel's having a fight in January, Usyk they're allowing a voluntary [defence]. AJ ranked No 3 and Dubois No 2 weren't available to fight at the moment so they made Lawrence and Moses as a final eliminator, which was a surprise."

Whether it happens or not, I'm not sure. I doubt it. But Lawrence is here to fight everyone and anyone so that's where we are."

However, Agit Kabayel is currently the WBC interim champion. Should the all-British clash go ahead, the winner may be asked to face Kabayel to decide who the next man worthy of challenging Oleksandr Usyk is. 

Itauma is only 20 years old and should he win a world title in the near future, would be one of the youngest to ever do so at heavyweight. Despite his lack of experience, trainer Ben Davison previously stated that they would not shy away from a title shot should the opportunity present itself. 

"I would take it," Davison told Sky Sports.

"I would. I think it's a win-win. As much as Moses hasn't boxed anybody like Usyk, I don't think Usyk's boxed anybody like Moses. I think he would openly say that himself.

"It's something he [Itauma] would be up for. I think he's got the mindset: if you're taking a dive [into the deep end] you might as well take the dive. Hopefully we may end up in a world title fight."