Boxing
Will Itauma stick or twist with Hrgovic amid world title chances?
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Moses Itauma's chickens may be coming home to roost - but right now, the Briton's hands are tied as Oleksandr Usyk vacates.
Since turning over Dillian Whyte inside one brutal round last August, the heavyweight star has been clamouring for a title shot.
Plenty of questions have hung above Itauma and his team, of course - his youth, his chin, his ability to go deep with top rivals.
March's postponed bout with Jermaine Franklin helped answer some of those matters, yet for many, there remains more to ask.
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The idea that Itauma might have gone toe-to-toe with the veteran Usyk felt a bridge too far for most, given the Ukrainian's clout.
Likewise, any pursuit of Fabio Wardley was complicated by the two men sharing key figures in their teams and a friendship too.
Now however, the field is open - and yet, with an August bout against Filip Hrgovic to fulfil, Itauma seems locked out of the loop.
But is he? Could the Briton and his team potentially engineer a chance for him to contest a world title bout instead of his next fight?
Where is Itauma in title contention?
Basically, Itauma is on the radar everywhere right now. The star holds strong ranked positions with all four major governing bodies.
Of those, he is currently first with the WBA and the WBO. The WBC and the IBF meanwhile have him at third in both of their lists.
But the WBO can be scratched off. While current champion Daniel Dubois is fair game, Wardley has a rematch clause in action.
That leaves three - and the IBF have already sought to get the jump, by ordering Itauma into talks with Frank Sanchez for the belt.
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Meanwhile, promoted WBC champion Agit Kabayel would be happy to entertain him, while Murat Gassiev has expressed interest too.
What are Itauma's options?
Right now, Itauma faces a choice - stick or twist. The easiest option, of course, is to remain locked in to face Hrgovic in August.
The pursuit of an opponent for the star took longer than expected, even with the Croatian namechecked as the frontrunner in May.
But if the chance to face Sanchez - or indeed pursue another option - proves too tempting, then his team will likely try to intervene.
This would likely come in the form of a step-aside fee for Hrgovic, effectively asking the latter to stand down and clear a pathway.
Yet the latter is unlikely to do so without a fight, likely chasing a major payday for his cooperation, as well as a title shot in his next bout.
Will Itauma genuinely ditch Hrgovic?
This is the big question. With both men represented by Queensberry Promotions, plenty of internal discussions will be had soon.
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Within Itauma's team, many view Hrgovic as the litmust test of his potential so far, and whether he is ready for a title shot right now.
An opportunity becoming available does not strictly change that. The Croatian may remain the man best placed to test his mettle.
Yet Frank Warren faces a major choice now when it comes to a star of the future - one poised to truly become a star of the present.
Whatever decision is made, it does not seem as if Itauma will have to wait more than a year for his chance. But how soon is now?
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