Moses Itauma ordered into IBF title talks with Frank Sanchez

Moses Itauma has been ordered into negotiations with Frank Sanchez for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, creating a collision course with his scheduled August fight.

The sanctioning body directed Itauma, ranked third in its heavyweight standings, to reach an agreement with top-ranked Sanchez by 29 July, per BBC Sport. The mandate follows Oleksandr Usyk's decision last week to relinquish the IBF strap along with his WBA super and WBC belts.

Itauma faces choice between Sanchez talks and Hrgovic clash

The 21-year-old Briton is currently booked to face Filip Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena on 29 August in what he has described as his toughest fight to date. Itauma now must either withdraw from the Hrgovic match or agree to face Sanchez afterward if a title deal materializes.

Itauma stopped Jermaine Franklin in five rounds in Manchester this past March, extending his unbeaten record. Queensberry, his promoter, has not yet commented on the IBF's directive.

While the IBF moves to crown a new champion, the WBC elevated interim titleholder Agit Kabayel to full champion status after Usyk vacated. Usyk, a two-time undisputed heavyweight king who had been required to face Kabayel following a May exemption bout against Rico Verhoeven, is now free to pursue any opponent outside the sanctioning framework.

Source: bbc.co.uk