Moses Itauma ordered to negotiate Frank Sanchez IBF title fight

Moses Itauma has been told to enter negotiations with Frank Sanchez for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, according to BBC Sport.

The sanctioning body wants its number-one contender Sanchez to face Itauma, ranked third, with the two camps given a deadline of 29 July to reach an agreement. The directive follows Oleksandr Usyk's decision last week to relinquish the IBF, WBA super, and WBC straps.

Itauma's Hrgovic clash now in doubt

The British prospect is currently scheduled to meet Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena on 29 August in what Itauma has described as his "toughest fight." He could withdraw from that bout to pursue the IBF title shot or agree to face Sanchez after the Hrgovic date, though promoter Queensberry has not yet commented on the situation.

Itauma, 21, stopped Jermaine Franklin in five rounds in Manchester this March. Meanwhile, the WBC elevated interim champion Agit Kabayel to full champion after Usyk vacated, meaning the German will not be part of the IBF picture.

Usyk, who had been required to fight Kabayel after receiving an exemption to face Rico Verhoeven in May, is now free to pursue any matchup as a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion without sanctioning obligations.

Source: bbc.co.uk