The search for Moses Itauma’s next opponent has taken yet another complicated turn, leaving fans questioning who will be brave enough to step in the ring with one of boxing’s fastest-rising heavyweight stars. Despite his youth, hype, and impressive unbeaten record, securing a worthy opponent for his December 13 return in Manchester is proving more difficult than anyone expected.

The Growing Struggle to Find Moses Itauma an Opponent

Moses Itauma, only 20 years old but already 13-0 with 11 knockouts, has been steadily building momentum as a new force in the heavyweight division. His blistering first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte last month elevated him beyond the status of “prospect” into that of a legitimate contender. Yet ironically, that same dominance now seems to be working against him.

Promoter Frank Warren confirmed earlier this month that Filip Hrgovic had rejected the chance to face Itauma in December. According to Warren, Hrgovic was offered the fight, but negotiations quickly collapsed when financial demands became unrealistic.

“He’s been offered that fight, Hrgovic,” Warren explained during an appearance on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan.
“There’s two ways to say you don’t want the fight: you either say you don’t want the fight, or you want a trillion pounds for it.”

This rejection represented a major setback because Hrgovic was widely regarded as one of the few heavyweights capable of truly testing Itauma at this stage of his career. But the frustration did not end there.

Jermaine Franklin Also Says ‘No Thanks’

If Hrgovic was Plan A, then Jermaine Franklin Jr. was certainly Plan B. Known as “The 989 Assassin,” Franklin seemed like the perfect opponent—experienced, durable, and coming off a solid win. Yet according to Itauma’s trainer, Ben Davison, Franklin has also made it clear that he isn’t interested.

“Those are the two on everybody’s lips,” Davison said to Sky Sports, referencing Hrgovic and Franklin.
“They’re not interested, and it’s the same for pretty much all of them, so it’s difficult.

“They just want so much money to box him it’s hard to get the opponents. The next fight, if we can pull something off and get somebody like that—we’re all for that. That’s what we’re after, the same as everybody else. But if not, I suppose we’ll have to drop down a level and try again in the new year maybe.”

For fans hoping to see Itauma continue his climb against established contenders, this news is a major disappointment.

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Why Jermaine Franklin Was Viewed as a Good Test

Franklin’s name emerged because he has proven to be one of the more durable heavyweights on the scene. While he hasn’t reached elite status, he has shared the ring with Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua, going the distance with both men. That toughness made him a logical next step for Itauma, whose first-round stoppages have become almost routine.

Franklin recently ended a 14-month layoff with a hard-fought win over Ivan Dychko on the undercard of Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez just two weeks ago. Heading into that bout, Franklin had even expressed openness to facing Itauma, suggesting he wasn’t afraid of the challenge.

Yet in more recent comments to BoxNation, Franklin appeared to walk back his interest, insisting that any fight with Itauma would need significant financial incentive:

“Right now, I’m not thinking about it. I’m focused on what’s in front of me. But right now, I’ll let you know, I’m far from a test for anybody. So if you want to get messed up, you can bring it. If the money’s right, we can talk about it.”

That shift in tone highlights one of the key issues facing Itauma: he’s seen as too high-risk, low-reward for many heavyweights. Fighters know a loss to a young, surging contender could damage their reputation, while a win might not come with enough reward to justify the risk.

The Risk-Reward Dilemma for Heavyweights

The heavyweight division has always carried unique challenges when it comes to matchmaking. Established contenders want lucrative fights, often with title implications or high-profile names. Young prospects, however talented, rarely bring that level of reward.

For Itauma, this problem is amplified by his youth, hype, and knockout power. Facing him offers the real possibility of being embarrassed on a big stage, and not every fighter is willing to take that chance unless the paycheck is extraordinary.

Ben Davison was blunt about this difficulty, noting that Franklin and Hrgovic are just two names in a longer list of unwilling opponents.

“It’s difficult to get these opponents at this moment in time,” Davison admitted. “They’re not interested; they don’t want to play ball.”

Could Itauma’s Next Fight Be a Step Down?

The unavoidable question now is whether Itauma will be forced to take a step down in opponent quality for his December bout. While this might frustrate fans eager for him to face top contenders, it may be the only realistic path forward in the short term.

If Itauma ends 2024 with another dominant win—albeit against a less threatening opponent—he may still maintain his momentum into 2025, when bigger opportunities could materialize. But there is also the risk that fans will view such a move as a sign of stagnation.

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Other Potential Opponents

Outside of Franklin and Hrgovic, several other heavyweights could theoretically be in the mix, although none provide the perfect balance of availability, credibility, and willingness.

• Martin Bakole: Recently fought Efe Ajagba to a controversial draw, but his own stock has dropped since a February stoppage defeat to Joseph Parker.

• Jamaine Franklin (revisited): Despite his reluctance, negotiations could still continue if financial terms shift.

• Filip Hrgovic (revisited): The Croatian remains the “dream fight” for Itauma’s team, but unless purses rise significantly, his refusal seems final.

• Other fringe contenders: Fighters like Charles Martin or Michael Hunter could potentially step in, but whether they bring enough appeal is uncertain.

Ultimately, Itauma’s team will need to balance the importance of keeping him active with the desire to avoid derailing his momentum.

Why This Matters for Itauma’s Career Path

At just 20 years old, Itauma is already ranked by multiple sanctioning bodies and widely tipped as a future world champion. Every fight he takes now is scrutinized not only for the result but also for what it means in the broader context of the heavyweight division.

His emphatic victory over Whyte showed he has the skills and power to compete at the highest level. But consistent progression is key, and too many “easy” fights could stall his rise. At the same time, rushing into world-title contention without proper seasoning could be disastrous.

This is why Franklin and Hrgovic were ideal next steps—they offered enough experience to test Itauma without representing insurmountable risks. Their refusals now leave Itauma in a tricky middle ground.

Looking Ahead to December and Beyond

As of now, Moses Itauma is still expected to fight on December 13 in Manchester, but the opponent remains uncertain. If his promoter and trainer cannot secure a name like Franklin or Hrgovic, fans should prepare for a less glamorous matchup designed to simply keep Itauma active.

In 2025, however, the pressure will increase dramatically. With Itauma’s growing rankings and profile, the expectation will be that he moves toward world title contention. Whether that comes against fighters like Joseph Parker, Fabio Wardley, or even Oleksandr Usyk down the line, his team must carefully navigate the next 12 months.

Conclusion

The saga of Moses Itauma’s next opponent reflects a classic boxing dilemma: a rising star who everyone wants to watch but few want to fight. With both Filip Hrgovic and Jermaine Franklin turning down opportunities, Itauma’s December bout may not deliver the fireworks fans were hoping for.

Still, his journey remains one of the most compelling in modern heavyweight boxing. Whether he faces a top-tier opponent or a tune-up fighter in December, the world will be watching closely to see how far this young powerhouse can go.