The next move for WBA regular heavyweight titleholder Murat Gassiev could be revealed soon, though the Russian may opt to see what happens elsewhere in the next few weeks.

First, Moses Itauma will face Jermaine Franklin in Manchester, England, then Tyson Fury will return against Arslanbek Makhmudov and Dereck Chisora will battle Deontay Wilder.

Gassiev is 33-2 (26 KOs) and scored a crunching KO of Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev to win the title in December.

“We are aiming for early July, late June, Murat Gassiev will be making his defense,” said the IBA’s Al Siesta. “We all know that Moses Itauma is fighting Jermaine Franklin. In my opinion, this is the most serious test he had to date. Dillian Whyte was on decline. He’s a great fighter with a great legacy, but it wasn’t the Dillian Whyte we knew. He’s at the end of his career. Same would have been with probably Derek Chisora, Mariusz Wach and other people he beat. Jermaine Franklin is game – a very competent individual, great fighter. And if Moses wins spectacularly, that will give us a very good indication where he really is.

“I really like Moses Itauma. I think he’s the real deal. He’s been so far extremely impressive and nobody wants to fight him. But, trust me, Murat Gassiev will embrace that.”

Itauma, just 21, is 13-0 (11 KOs).

Is that the fight Siesta favors?

“We would like any fight. Bring it on,” Siesta said. “We would like any fight. Murat Gassiev is 32 years of age. If he will be shying away from anybody, what is the point to hold the title?”

Siesta said negotiations with respective parties are already underway, and he said that although the May fight between WBO titleholder Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois was being eyed, the likes of Zhilei Zhang, Filip Hrgovic and Jarrell Miller couldn’t be discounted.

“There are plenty of heavyweights that we’re all talking to, most of them,” Siesta said. “We obviously know that some of them are fighting each other. And it’s pointless to speculate right now, but there are some free, so-called unemployed heavyweights right now with a great legacy and great name that we are in communication with.

“Michael Hunter, for example. So all the men we’re talking to. Let’s see. But, ultimately, if Moses Itauma beats Jermaine Franklin, I can’t see the reason why we can’t bring it to London, for example.

“And that’s where IBA would move to London, for example, or do the co-promotion with Frank Warren.”

Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.