WBC Orders Okolie Vs Itauma Eliminator For Usyk Mandatory

The WBC has ordered #1-ranked Lawrence Okolie and #4 Moses Itauma to fight in a final heavyweight eliminator to determine a mandatory challenger for champion Oleksandr Usyk.

WBC Pulls the Trigger

The two heavyweights are expected to go through with the fight, provided they win their next bouts. Okolie (22-1, 16 KOs) has a fight on December 19th that he needs to win, and Itauma is fighting Jermaine Franklin on January 24, 2026.

Earlier today, on December 3rd, the WBC announced it at its annual convention in Bangkok, Thailand.

For Queensberry, it’s a way of setting up a fight between two of their top heavyweights, Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) and Okolie (22-1, 16 KOs). Putting this fight together is an easier one for them, as they won’t have to deal with another promoter. It would be an in-house job.

Will Usyk Vacate Again?

Queensberry promotes both of them, and a clash would put the winner in a position to face Usyk or be elevated to full champion status if he elects to vacate to avoid them.

Oleksandr already did that with his WBO belt when the sanctioning body ordered him to defend against mandatory Fabio Wardley. Giving up the WBC belt to swerve the Itauma vs. Okolie winner might not matter to the 38-year-old Usyk, who is nearing retirement and focused on just the bigger fights.

In the meantime, Okolie will be fighting this month in Nigeria against a still-to-be-determined opponent on December 19, 2025. He’s not expected to face a serious threat.

Itauma’s Franklin Warm-Up

Itauma will be a massive favorite in his 10-round bout against veteran Jermaine Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) on January 24, 2026, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. The fight will be shown on DAZN. It’s a lateral move for Itauma from his last mismatch against the aging journeyman Dillian Whyte. The 32-year-old Franklin is younger than Whyte and will at least try to put up a fight.