Moses Itauma set to become mandatory challenger for WBO heavyweight title with Daniel Dubois or stablemate Fabio Wardley in sight

Moses Itauma is set to become the mandatory challenger for the WBO heavyweight title - potentially putting him on a collision course with stablemate Fabio Wardley.

Itauma, 21, produced another emphatic result on Saturday night, handing a first stoppage defeat to Jermaine Franklin as he recorded a fifth-round victory in Manchester, taking his record to 14-0 with 12 of those wins achieved via knockout.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri posted on social media platform X that after Itauma "further affirmed his standing within the division as a rising star" the Brit would be "formally recommended" for a shot at the organisation's heavyweight belt.

Wardley - who shares trainer Ben Davison with Itauma - will defend that championship against Daniel Dubois on May 9, so if he wins it could lead to a "sticky predicament", according to Itauma.

The up-and-comer said before knocking out Franklin: "I think Fabio can [beat Dubois]. Fabio keeps surprising everyone. If you write him off he'll end up smashing Dubois out.

"You don't really know what to expect from Fabio but I'd probably say Fabio wins.

"He's obviously in the same gym as me so that would be a sticky predicament. Everything can make sense, it all makes sense."