Moses Itauma admits he would be willing to go straight into a showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
Itauma is the number one contender to undisputed heavyweight champion, Usyk’s WBO crown.
The Ukrainian has been ordered to defend that WBO belt against interim champion, Joseph Parker and the governing body and the pair have until August 23 to agree a deal before purse bids are called.
Itauma concedes both Parker and WBC interim titlist, Agit Kabayel are probably more deserving of a meeting with Usyk, but insists he would welcome a clash with the two-weight world champion should it present itself.
“I don’t lose anything out of it,” the 20-year-old told Dan Rafael of Big Fight Weekend.
“I think it’s a win-win situation for me.
“I don’t like to use the word deserve, because obviously you don’t get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate.
“But I would have to say that Joseph Parker and Agit Kabayel have charged enough to the game, whereas I haven’t.
“But then yet again, I’ve come here to negotiate, not to deserve.”
Usyk reclaimed the undisputed heavyweight championship with a superb fifth round knockout over Daniel Dubois in their rematch at Wembley Stadium last month.
Itauma must first navigate the biggest step-up of his professional career to date when he faces former world title challenger, Dillian Whyte in Riyadh on Saturday, live on DAZN pay-per-view.
Whyte, 37, is on a run of three straight victories since defeat to Tyson Fury in his sole world title challenge, retiring Ebenezer Tetteh in seven rounds in December.
Despite being an overwhelming favourite to defeat ‘The Body Snatcher’, Itauma who is undefeated in 12 professional bouts, says he’s wary of the threat the Brixton man poses.
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“Any heavyweight has the ability to knock out any other heavyweight,” he added.
“So Dillian Whyte is always going to pose a threat more so than others.
“But at the same time, I also pose a threat to Dillian so there’s only one way to find out.”
