Overview
- The bout was slated for January 24 at Manchester’s Co-op Live, but Queensberry has rebooked the event for March 28 at the same arena.
- Promoters announced Itauma was injured in training camp but did not disclose the nature of the injury.
- Jermaine Franklin, durable across 26 fights with distance efforts against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, was selected as a step-up test to give Itauma longer rounds.
- The entire Magnificent 7 undercard shifts to the new date, including Willy Hutchinson vs Ezra Taylor, Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls, Liam Davies vs Zak Miller, and Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton.
- Itauma’s immediate plans are unsettled as the WBA has ordered a fight with Murat Gassiev and a WBC final eliminator with Lawrence Okolie has been cited by officials.