The Gentleman Boxer, 26, has called for a transatlantic battle with The Wrecking Ball, 20, after Itauma missed out on a fight with Kubrat Pulev, 44.

Speaking with Sky Sports, Torrez said: “I won't duck any smoke. I'm here for the action and I want that competition. I want to see who the best heavyweight is.

“Not just in the USA, not just in the UK but in the world. That's what we're fighting for here.

“We're fighting for the entire planet, let's see who's that baddest man.”

Torrez - who is unbeaten as a professional boxer, like Itauma - emphasised he “really wants that fight” with The Wrecking Ball.

He said: “I'm here, I'm ready. I think the funny thing is you see all these guys calling out Anthony Joshua, you see all these guys calling out the older guys.

“I'm out here calling out Itauma. I want that fight. Two guys that are in the prime of their careers and working hard to be someone. I think this is the spot and the time to show who's who.

“I really believe this will be one of those megafights that we could have that would really showcase who's here to stay and who's here to be the guy.”

Torrez added he would welcome the challenge of doing battle with Itauma in the UK.

He said: “He would relish coming to Britain to take on that challenge.

“1000 per cent, the UK fans are amazing, you guys are incredible. I don't care about getting a little booed.

“I think he does have a name for himself and I commend that, for his promotional company moving him the way that they should but just as he's fought a lot of guys, I've fought some pretty good guys as well. I think that they just need the right fight and I think I could be that right fight. I really do.

“I'm here, I'm No. 4 in the IBF, I'm top five in the world right now, I'm an Olympic medallist, I think that if anything could showcase anyone's abilities I think it would be a fight with USA versus UK, the best of the best.”