Overview
- Lawrence Okolie is ranked No. 1 by the WBC at heavyweight and Moses Itauma is No. 4, with both fighting under the Queensberry banner.
- Okolie is slated to box on December 19 in Lagos, Nigeria, while Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin on January 24 in Manchester.
- Okolie is open to the fight, though his trainer Joe Gallagher said the order was a surprise and expressed doubt that the matchup will be finalized.
- Itauma’s handlers previously declined an IBF final eliminator to keep other title routes open, indicating strategy will shape any decision on this bout.
- The WBC also ordered a light-heavyweight final eliminator between Joshua Buatsi and Ben Whittaker, signaling broader mandatory activity.