Moses Itauma confirmed his position as one of the brightest young talents in boxing on Saturday night and attention has quickly turned to what is next for the 20-year-old.
The much-anticipated clash with former world title challenger Dillian Whytedid not get out of the first round, with Itauma stopping the Body Snatcher after just 119 seconds.
It was a ruthless display of speed and power as the young star retained the WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles, while winning the Commonwealth belt.
Now 13-0, there are already calls for the 20-year-old to take on undisputed, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, calls which he is hearing.
‘What is next?’ Itauma said on DAZN. ‘I will fight anyone they put in front of me.
‘[The crowd] are saying [undisputed champion Oleksandr] Usyk. The team mentioned they want me to get some rounds out. Any of them can happen.’
The crowd may be saying Usyk, but Itauma does not feel he is ready just yet to take on the brilliant Ukrainian.
The 37-year-old Whyte is comfortably the best win on Itauma’s CV and he wants to add to his collection of victories before stepping up to Usyk.
He said: ‘I put on a performance for you guys so it’s now “who’s next?”
‘I don’t want to call out Usyk because I don’t believe I deserve the opportunity, but guys that do deserve the opportunity – I want to fight those lot.
‘So maybe Agit Kabayel, maybe Joseph Parker. Maybe them type of names.’
Parker is in line to face Usyk next as the mandatory for the WBO title, although there has been no agreement on that fight just yet.
The 33-year-old is coming off six straight wins, including victories over Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole and certainly appears the most deserving to have the next crack at the unbeaten champion.
If Usyk, for whatever reason, does not fight Parker and vacates the WBO belt then it could be the New Zealander taking on Itauma for that strap next.
Parker was certainly impressed by the rising star, telling BBC Radio 5: ‘He put on a great display in terms of power, aggression and picking his shots. For a 20 year-old to be under the lights, he took the pressure on.
‘I would love to share the ring with him one day and we probably will.’
Promoter Frank Warren explained before Saturday’s fight that Usyk had asked for an extension in negotiations with Parker as he deals with an injury.
‘He (Usyk) put a letter in yesterday stating that he’s asked him for an extension period, because he’s injured, before being ordered to do anything,’ Warren told Sky Sports.
‘Whatever happens the fact of life is Joseph Parker will either fight as champion if Usyk vacates or he will fight Usyk for the title.
‘If Moses or Dillian win, they’re in the No 1 spot and if the fight with Usyk and Parker doesn’t happen then Joe (Parker) will have to fight the official number one contender.’