British-Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua has declared he would be fully open to fighting fellow British-Nigerian Moses Itauma once he has navigated his next two bouts, Sports Extra reports.
Speaking in an interview with Fight Hub TV, the two-time world heavyweight champion was asked directly whether he would be prepared to face the 21-year-old Itauma, widely regarded as the heir apparent to the heavyweight throne.
“Let me get these two out of the way, and 100% I would fight Itauma. Yeah, man. Why not, bro? Let’s go. So many great opportunities are still presenting themselves,” Joshua said, referring to his scheduled bouts against Kristian Prenga and Tyson Fury.
Joshua takes on Albanian heavyweight Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 25, with a long-anticipated showdown against Fury expected to follow in November.
Should he come through both, a crossroads clash with Itauma could realistically materialise in the first half of 2027.
Itauma, who has torn through the heavyweight division at a startling pace to reach 14-0, has not yet been truly tested. None of his fights have exceeded the 18-minute mark, leaving questions about his gas tank and chin that remain unanswered.
Those questions may begin to find their answers in August, when he is expected to face Croatian contender Filip Hrgovic in what will represent the most significant examination of his career to date.
Victory over Hrgovic is expected to set up a world title shot, with Frank Sanchez and Murat Gassiev among the names being considered as potential opponents in a vacant title fight.
But Joshua’s comments suggest that the landscape beyond that could involve a British-Nigerian collision that the heavyweight division would find difficult to ignore.
Promoter Frank Warren is expected to confirm the Hrgovic fight in the coming days, with late August — likely August 22 or August 29 — now the most realistic window for the contest.