WBO President Names Moses Itauma as New No.1 Heavyweight Contender

World Boxing Organisation (WBO) president Gustavo Olivieri has officially named Moses Itauma as the top-ranked heavyweight contender, following the British-Nigerian’s emphatic second-round knockout of American Mike Balogun in Glasgow on Saturday night.

The surprise announcement came just an hour after the 20-year-old southpaw from Chatham successfully defended his WBO Inter-Continental title for the third time. The victory extended Itauma’s unbeaten record to 12-0, marking his tenth career stoppage.

Olivieri expressed his admiration for Itauma’s performance via social media, stating: “Moses has climbed the WBO rankings with talent, discipline, and electrifying performances. Now the #1 world-rated heavyweight contender, his moment is approaching. It’s only a matter of time before he gets his shot & the world sees a new star emerge. #NewEra”

The decision to place Itauma at the top of the WBO heavyweight rankings ahead of several seasoned contenders has stirred debate among boxing fans. Critics argue that the young fighter has yet to build a résumé deserving of such a high ranking and may be benefiting from favorable treatment.

Olivieri also hinted at a potential future bout between Itauma and current unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who is set to defend his titles in a rematch against Itauma’s stablemate Daniel Dubois on July 19th at Wembley Stadium.

Saturday’s win served as a powerful comeback statement for Itauma, who had been sidelined for five months. During that time, he claimed to have been avoided by more prominent names in the division. Balogun, a former NFL linebacker turned professional boxer, showed early resilience by surviving two knockdowns in the opening round, but was ultimately stopped early in the second by a sharp lead right hook