Moses Itauma is heading to the United States later this year, with promoter Frank Warren mapping out a transatlantic push for his 21-year-old heavyweight prospect that is directly modeled on what the American market did for Tyson Fury.
Itauma, ranked fifth by ESPN at heavyweight and carrying a 14-0 record with 12 knockouts, will first return to the ring on August 8 in London against an opponent in the top 10 before making his American debut in the latter part of 2026. Warren explained the logic behind the move to ESPN, drawing a direct line between Fury’s Deontay Wilder fights and what he believes a US appearance can do for Itauma’s profile.
“It’s a big market. Tyson went out there to challenge Wilder and look what it did for his career. I think the same thing will happen with Moses. Wilder wasn’t a big attraction in America before fighting Fury. Then when he fought Tyson in Las Vegas, it’s the highest grossing heavyweight fight, on the gate, that ever took place. That tells you the appeal of a good heavyweight fight. If we take Moses out there, they’re going to love him, aren’t they? He is phenomenal.”
Itauma has already headlined events in Glasgow, Manchester, and Saudi Arabia and delivered one of the year’s more eye-catching results in March when he knocked out Jermaine Franklin Jr. in round five. Warren has expressed hope that Itauma could find himself in the world championship picture by the end of 2026 depending on mandatory challengers, though a US debut remains on the schedule regardless of how the title landscape develops.
The August London date replaced an earlier plan to fight on July 25, which was shelved after Anthony Joshua’s return fight against Kristian Prenga was scheduled for the same date in Riyadh.