Moses Itauma and his handlers are currently deciding on his next move.
Itauma is set to return on December 13 in Manchester, with the highly-touted heavyweight looking to build on his career-best first round stoppage win over Dillian Whyte in August.
The 20-year-old is the number one contender to undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk’s WBO crown, although the Ukrainian has been ordered to face the winner of the October 25 clash between interim titlist, Joseph Parker and Fabio Wardley.
Former cruiserweight world champion, Tony Bellew believes the Brit should face ex-heavyweight ruler, Andy Ruiz Jr next.
Ruiz Jr caused a seismic upset when he knocked out Anthony Joshua in 2019 to become unified champion, before losing his belts in an immediate rematch and Bellew thinks the 36-year-old would be the ideal opponent for Itauma, who has not been past six rounds in his 13-fight professional career.
“Moses needs rounds,” Bellew told Sporting Talk.
I don’t doubt how good he is. I think he’s absolutely exceptional.
But you will never know how good he is until he goes past them first six [rounds].
“I would suggest for someone like Moses Itauma to experience it for the first time on a lesser level.
“I thought Andy Ruiz would be the perfect fight for him.
“I thought Andy Ruiz throws enough shots, he’s not a big enough puncher with one shot.
“I think it’s the perfect fight.
“He comes to win. He ain’t lying down for nobody and I think that would be a really good fight to make.”
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Ruiz hasn’t fought since drawing with Jarrell Miller last August and has only fought three times since his rematch with ‘AJ’.
Itauma’s promoter, Frank Warren was targeting a bout with Filip Hrgovic, providing he had recovered in time after sustaining a cut during his win over David Adeleye.
The young prospect also named Jermaine Franklin Jr as a potential option, however Itauma’s trainer, Ben Davison claims neither he or Hrgovic have shown any interest in fighting him.
“Those are the two on everybody’s lips,” Davison told Sky Sports.
“They’re not interested and it’s the same for pretty much all of them, so it’s difficult.
“It’s difficult to get these opponents at this moment in time. They’re not interested, they don’t want to play ball.
“They just want so much money to box him it’s hard to get the opponents.”
