Boxing
British star who fought Wardley reacts to Itauma fight rumours amid hunt for next opponent
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David Adeleye has given an honest response to the rumours that he could potentially fight heavyweight phenom Moses Itauma.
The former British champion was open to the domestic dust-up as he hopes to get back to winning ways on December 19 in Nigeria, after losing to Filip Hrgovic on the undercard of Itauma vs Dillian Whyte in August.
“[I] don’t mind,” Adeleye told Boxing News. “It goes back to what the management, agents and lawyers say. I would say yes to anyone.”
The former British champion took a big step up in fighting Hrgovic. Before that, Adeleye's highest calibre of opponent was the newly crowned WBO interim champion, Fabio Wardley, who knocked him out inside seven rounds.
Adeleye felt the consequences of such a big step up on the night, suffering a knockdown on the way to a lopsided points loss to the Croatian.
But he gave a good account of himself and is set to fight again in Nigeria in December.
Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
Adeleye would be the first man to willingly step up and face Itauma since he knocked out Whyte in the first round in August.
Itauma was initially scheduled to top the bill of a fight card on December 13 in Manchester, but failed to nail down an opponent.
Adeleye and Michael Hunter were front-runners before the WBA ordered their ‘Regular’ champion, Kubrat Pulev, to face Itauma.
But at the last second, Pulev announced he would face Murat Gassiev instead, seemingly after his voluntary defence period had lapsed. Promoter Frank Warren subsequently revealed that Itauma will no longer fight in December and will instead pursue his right as mandatory challenger for Pulev.
So while Adeleye is scheduled to fight on December 19, alongside headliner Lawrence Okolie, it will not be against Itauma. But the possibility remains for him to be the latest to try and stop the rising star in 2026.
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