Moses Itauma Date Moved To August 8 After Joshua-Prenga Clash

Moses Itauma’s next fight has been pushed back by two weeks, with promoter Frank Warren confirming the heavyweight will now return on Saturday, August 8, at The O2 Arena in London. The Queensberry Promotions show had originally been scheduled for July 25, the same date as Anthony Joshua’s planned fight with Kristian Prenga.

Warren announced the revised date Monday on The Ariel Helwani Show, saying Queensberry opted not to stage Itauma’s bout directly against Joshua-Prenga. Warren had initially been upset that Joshua-Prenga landed on July 25, but has now moved his event rather than compete for the same night.

“We could’ve gone into a head to head and all this crap, but it is what it is. We’ll just move forward and keep moving forward. We’ve got a great, great show we’ll have on the 8th,” Warren said.

The decision carries added context because Warren promotes Tyson Fury, and Joshua-Prenga is intended to lead toward a future Joshua-Fury fight. Queensberry’s relationship with the wider event landscape has already been tense this year, with the company previously threatening legal action against Saudi Arabia’s Sela earlier in 2026.

Itauma’s opponent for August 8 has not been finalised. Warren said discussions are ongoing, but he will not identify the names under consideration until a deal is complete. “We’re working on a couple of names. Until the contract’s signed, I don’t like saying,” Warren said.

World-title routes remain open

Warren expects Itauma to be in position to challenge for a world title before the end of 2026 if he continues winning. He has also made clear that he would be prepared to move Itauma quickly if an Oleksandr Usyk fight became available, telling Sky Sports News this week: “I fancy that fight. I’ll be honest with you, I fancy that fight right now. And I don’t rush anyone. If we could make that fight, I’d make that now.”

The WBC route could become active depending on Usyk’s next steps. BoxingScene has reported that the WBC is likely to order Usyk to defend against interim champion Agit Kabayel if Usyk defeats Rico Verhoeven; if Usyk declines that fight, Kabayel could be elevated to full champion, with Itauma positioned as his first challenger. Itauma is currently ranked No. 2 by the WBC, and his team is expected to ask for the No. 1 position following Lawrence Okolie’s recent drug-test failure.

There is also movement around the WBO belt, currently held by Fabio Wardley. WBO President Gustavo Olivieri has stated that Itauma may soon be named mandatory challenger, while Wardley is scheduled to face Daniel Dubois on this Saturday, at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

Wardley complications

Wardley has acknowledged public interest in a fight with Itauma because of their similar profiles, but he does not share that view at present. Both fighters work with trainer Ben Davison and share a gym, and Wardley has said they are at different stages, with Itauma closing in on a world-title opportunity while Wardley is targeting fights with Usyk, Joshua and Fury. Wardley has described the matchup as “null and void” for now.

Davison has also suggested that Wardley may not remain in place for a mandatory defence if he beats Dubois. “We have to be realistic. If Fabio wins, [unified champion Oleksandr] Usyk’s come out and said he would fight Fabio. If the WBO called a mandatory, the reality is Fabio would probably vacate that belt to get the Usyk fight,” Davison told Sky Sports News.

Away from the main titleholders, Murat Gassiev and Filip Hrgovic are among the heavyweights being discussed as possible Itauma opponents. Gassiev, who holds the WBA Regular title, has called out Itauma, and that fight would carry greater significance if Usyk vacates the WBA Super belt. Hrgovic is scheduled to face Dave Allen on Saturday, May 16, in Doncaster, with speculation that he could become a favoured Itauma option if he wins clearly.