British Boxer Lawrence Okolie has confirmed that talks are ongoing with Moses Itauma for a bout in Nigeria in 2026.
Okolie recorded a dominant victory over Ghana’s Ebenezer Tetteh in Lagos on Sunday for his first bout in Nigeria.
Advertisement
He stepped into the ring as a heavyweight for the third time after suffering back-to-back defeats to Dillian Whyte, and Frazer Clarke, both by knockout.
Tetteh refused to return for Round Three to allow Okolie to earn one of the easiest wins of his career.
However, Okolie, who has Nigerian parents, has confirmed that he is in talks with another Nigerian-born boxer, Moses Itauma for a bout in Nigeria in 2026.
He said: “We’re looking forward to the future. I’m wishing Moses Itauma look in his fight against [Jermaine] Franklin and then after that we’ve been mandated to box for the final eliminator for the world title. Two Nigerians getting it on. It’s going to be amazing.”
When asked if the fight could be held in Nigeria, Okolie replied, “I mean, yeah, that’s what we want.
“We are already in discussions, obviously, Moses needs to finish his fight well, and then it’s there.”
Earlier this month, The WBC ordered Okolie and Itauma to fight in an eliminator bout.
Should they face off, the winner will become the mandatory challenger for heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk.
Okolie has held world championships in two weight classes, including the World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgeweight title in 2024, and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cruiserweight title from 2021 to 2023.
At regional level, he held the Commonwealth title twice between 2018 and 2019; the British title from 2018 to 2019; and the European title in 2019.
Okolie was born in London to Nigerian parents in 1992.