The bout has been ordered by the WBC and would push both The Sauce, 32, and The Wrecking Ball, 20, towards Oleksandr Usyk’s, 38, full world championship.
Okolie, a former world champion at cruiserweight and bridgerweight, has risen to the number one spot in the WBC heavyweight rankings and is willing to meet Itauma, who sits in fourth.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Okolie’s trainer Joe Gallagher said: “I petitioned for him to be made mandatory. Kabayel’s having a fight in January, Usyk they’re allowing a voluntary.
“[Anthony Joshua] ranked No. 3 and [Daniel] Dubois No. 2 weren’t available to fight at the moment so they made Lawrence and Moses as a final eliminator, which was a surprise.”
He added: “Whether it happens or not, I’m not sure. I doubt it. But Lawrence is here to fight everyone and anyone so that’s where we are.”
However, both fighters are currently tied into other commitments.
Okolie is scheduled to box in Nigeria on December 19, 2025, while Itauma will face Jermaine Franklin, 32, in Manchester on January 24, 2026.
Despite being just 20 and only 13 fights into his professional career, Itauma is already seen as one of Britain’s most promising heavyweights and a potential future world champion.
Following his one-round knockout win over Dillian Whyte, 37, in August, Itauma was confirmed to headline against Franklin at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena in January 2026.
His promoter Frank Warren said in a statement: “I am very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American.”
Before Franklin was finalised, Itauma had been in line to face WBA champion Kubrat Pulev, 44, though The Cobra has since opted to defend his title against Murat Gassiev, 32, in Dubai.
Warren voiced frustration at the situation and said: “We’ve got to see what happens with this Pulev situation because the WBA ordered that fight and he can’t get out of it.
“We’ll see where we go. They’re talking about they want to go to Dubai for this Gassiev fight but the WBA has not sanctioned that fight, to my knowledge.”
After Pulev moved on, his promoter Ivaylo Gotzev insisted Itauma “must wait his turn” for a future opportunity.
He said: “The Pulev vs Gassiev fight is signed, sealed, and confirmed – so Itauma will have to wait his turn. We have an official WBA resolution authorising Kubrat Pulev’s first title defence to be a voluntary.”
If Itauma comes through Franklin and the WBC final eliminator proceeds as ordered, the young heavyweight could find himself in world title contention before the end of 2026.
