Former WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker has expressed strong interest in facing British-Nigerian rising star Moses Itauma, as discussions grow over a potential blockbuster bout before the end of the year.
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that Itauma, who shocked the boxing world by stopping Dillian Whyte in the very first round of their August clash, will headline a major event scheduled for December 13 in Manchester. The 19-year-old southpaw, widely seen as one of the most promising heavyweights in the sport, has quickly become a headline attraction following his string of dominant performances.
For Parker, however, the focus first lies on his upcoming contest against Fabio Wardley, the reigning WBA interim titleholder, set for October 25 at London’s O2 Arena. The bout is expected to be one of the most competitive heavyweight encounters of the year, with the winner moving closer to a mandatory shot at undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Speaking to DAZN News and other outlets, Parker revealed his readiness to take on Itauma if the opportunity presents itself, praising the young fighter’s energy and skill.
“I’ll take a fight with him. Moses is a great talent, he can only fight what’s in front of him, and he takes care of business every time,” Parker said.
“He’s young, he’s powerful, he’s fast. That would be another fight I’d love to take. I’m not in this boxing game to take my time in picking fights. I’ll fight anyone.”
The New Zealand-born heavyweight has faced and defeated some of the division’s biggest punchers in recent times, including Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, and Martin Bakole. His resilience and willingness to accept high-risk fights have earned him renewed respect among boxing fans and analysts.
After an uneven two-year stretch that saw only three fights, Parker now appears eager to make up for lost time and reclaim a position among the elite contenders. A victory over Wardley could set the stage for a lucrative meeting with Itauma, providing another chance to prove his experience against the new generation of heavyweights.
Meanwhile, Warren admitted that finding opponents for Itauma has been challenging since his emphatic win over Whyte. Fighters such as Filip Hrgovic and Jermaine Franklin were initially considered but reportedly withdrew after pricing themselves out of negotiations.
If the matchup materializes, fans could witness an exciting battle between Parker’s veteran experience and Itauma’s youthful aggression — a true generational showdown in the heavyweight division.
