British star Moses Itauma could be forced to pull out of his upcoming showdown with Filip Hrgovic after the IBF ordered the Queensberry fighter to undertake talks with Frank Sanchez for their vacant heavyweight title.
The news comes just days after former undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk announced that he was relinquishing hold of his belts as he prepares to drawer the curtain upon his illustrious boxing career.
The Ukrainian was in possession of the IBF, WBA 'super' and WBC straps, but his decision to part ways with them has opened up opportunities for a number of other blue-riband division contenders, including the unbeaten Itauma.
The 20-year-old had recently announced plans to square-off with former world title contender Hrgovic at London's O2 Arena on August 29, although the IBF's fresh ruling has now cast significant doubt on that fight.
Sanchez, who is the number one ranked contender within the governing body's rankings, is fresh off the back of a flattering victory over Richard Torrez Jr in May, and had previously hoped his position would see him instated as champion.
However, with no fighter occupying the number two position, it appears he will now have to tackle the dangerous and har-hitting Itauma, who holds third position in the IBF's heavyweight list.
A statement, issued in the early hours of Wednesday morning, by the IBF read: "In accordance with IBF Championship Rules, #1 ranked contender in the IBF Heavyweight division, Frank Sanchez, has been ordered to negotiate with #3 ranked contender Moses Itauma.
"They have until July 29 to reach an agreement."
Of course, given Itauma is already locked-in to fight Hrgovic, defeat for the Briton could see him slip below the Croatian in the rankings, with the 34-year-old then instead colliding with Cuban Sanchez.
But, rather than risking that, Itauma's promoter Frank Warren, of Queensberry, could shelve plans for his fighter to undertake that fight and jump straight into a more lucrative and meaningful clash with Sanchez, for heavyweight gold.
It's understood an announcement regarding Itauma's plans will be announced in the coming days, with the expectancy being that his scheduled dust-up with Hrgovic is put on the back-burner.
