As fight week starts ahead of his biggest test in the pros so far, Moses Itauma is not ruling out a possible future fight with undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Itauma, just 20, is 12-0 (10 KOs) and hoping to improve his record on Saturday in Saudi Arabia when he boxes veteran contender Dillian Whyte, the 37-year-old “Body Snatcher” who is 31-3 (21 KOs).

Speaking to Sky Sports, Itauma said he was open to a possible 2026 bout with Usyk.

“One day, I think so,” said Itauma, asked if he felt their paths would cross. “If I’m able to beat Dillian Whyte in good fashion, I’m already ranked No. 1 by the WBO… Honestly, I do feel like Joseph Parker/Agit Kabayel do deserve the opportunity to fight for the belts but you don’t get what you deserve these days, you get what you negotiate so I do feel like I would be in a position to fight him.”

But Itauma knows he must put all of his energies into defeating Whyte first. The Brixton heavyweight has been near the top of the sport for several years, and has fought the likes of Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker, Tyson Fury, and Derek Chisora.

“Dillian’s obviously a big name, good opposition and it’s for me to go in there and do the job,” said Itauma.

“I’ve got to box to a gameplan, if I box to a gameplan, it shouldn’t be a long night. However, this is my first headline show, it’s in Saudi Arabia, against Dillian Whyte, and I’m only 20 years old so just having that comes with a bit of pressure and I love a bit of pressure.”

Asked whether he felt the pressure Itauma, having already trained earlier and with a final strength and conditioning session still to go, said: “I acknowledge it but I don’t feel it. I know it’s there, but I don’t let it sink in, only because that does you no favors.”