Anthony Joshua and Moses Itauma are at different ends of their careers, but are both being called out by the same heavyweight veteran.
Joshua, a former two-time unified world champion, has not fought in the year since his 5th round KO loss to then-IBF champion Daniel Dubois, as he has been recovering from a minor elbow injury.
Itauma, on the other hand, is as active as a man at his stage should be. He has had 13 fights since turning pro in 2023, winning 11 by KO and nine of those inside the first two rounds. Last time out, the 20-year-old stopped Dillian Whyte inside two rounds and is now looking towards his first world title shot. He has already stated he is ready for Oleksandr Usyk, but much of the boxing world thinks he should build more slowly towards his first tilt at a belt.
This past weekend, Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz, who is now 46 years old as per official listings, returned to the ring and scored a first-round stoppage win against the overmatched Phillip Penson at the Caribe Royale.
Speaking afterwards to the The Ring Magazine, Oritz laid out where he would like to go next.
“I think in my mind … Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma. I’m ready for everybody.”
The former two-time world title challenger has not fought since January 2024 – also an early stoppage over a little-known opponent, Francisco Cordero – but this time hopes to be back in action within three months as he makes a final title at world honours.
At the top level, Ortiz has been stopped twice by Deontay Wilder and lost to former ‘AJ’ for Andy Ruiz Jr on points. Though an unlikely match-up, the Cuban could provide either a good test for Itauma on his rise or a measuring stick for Joshua as to just how much he has left at this later stage in his career.