Moses Itauma Returns On Usyk vs Dubois 2 Undercard, But Won’t Be Tested Against A Top Contender!

Moses Itauma will return to the ring on the Usyk vs Dubois rematch undercard, but the opponent is not what fans might expect!

Moses Itauma has been making waves in the heavyweight division. The 20-year-old boxer from Slovakia has steamrolled through twelve opponents without breaking much of a sweat. His journey from amateur standout to professional knockout artist has caught everyone’s attention. Boxing fans remember when he first turned pro, many wondered if the hype was real. Well, after watching him demolish former NFL linebacker Mike Balogun in Glasgow last Saturday, those doubts are fading fast.

The young heavyweight earned himself a WBO No.1 ranking with that performance, putting him right in the conversation with the division’s elite. His most impressive victory came against Demsey McKean, an Australian puncher who gave Filip Hrgovic serious problems for nearly twelve rounds. Itauma needed just one round to finish what Hrgovic couldn’t. That kind of power at such a young age doesn’t come around often in boxing.

Moses Itauma To Fight At The Undercard Of Usyk vs Dubois 2

Frank Warren, Itauma’s manager has confirmed that he will step back into the ring on July 19th at Wembley Stadium. The occasion couldn’t be bigger. He will fight on the undercard of the highly anticipated Oleksandr Usyk versus Daniel Dubois rematch. This undisputed heavyweight championship bout has captured the boxing world’s imagination. Usyk’s technical brilliance against Dubois’s raw power promises fireworks. Having Itauma on the same card shows just how highly Warren rates his young prospect.

However, boxing fans hoping to see Itauma tested against elite competition will have to wait a bit longer. Warren has ruled out two fighters who many thought would make perfect opponents. Martin Bakole was heavily linked with a fight against the rising star, but Warren shut down those rumors quickly. The promoter pointed out that Bakole looked awful in his recent draw with Efe Ajagba and got knocked out cold by Joseph Parker before that.The financial demands from Bakole’s camp also played a role in Warren’s decision.

Moses Itauma is set to return on the Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois II undercard on July 19th, but Frank Warren has revealed to The Ring that the heavyweight prodigy will not be facing either Martin Bakole or Joseph Parker. pic.twitter.com/efngYZZIlw
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 29, 2025

Joseph Parker presented another intriguing possibility that won’t come to fruition either. The former WBO heavyweight champion has been mentioned as a potential opponent in recent weeks. Parker’s experience and skill set would have provided Itauma with his toughest test yet. Unfortunately, the New Zealand fighter’s current status as WBO interim champion complicates things. Parker stepped aside to allow Usyk and Dubois to fight for the undisputed title, expecting to face the winner next.

Warren wants Itauma to be ready when he eventually gets his world title shot, not just to win it but to hold onto it for years. He promised to reveal Itauma’s actual opponent within the next week or so. While fans might feel disappointed about missing out on the Bakole or Parker fights, they can still look forward to seeing the young star in action on one of boxing’s biggest stages.

(Image Credit: BoxingShrew – X)

Daniel Dubois

Moses Itauma

Oleksandr Usyk

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!