Moses Itauma delivered a thunderous knockout against Jermaine Franklin, achieving what Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte could not by stopping the American heavyweight for the first time in his career.
A Statement Victory in Manchester
The 21-year-old British sensation from Chatham, Kent, dominated Franklin at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester. Franklin, who had never been knocked down before and previously went the distance with Joshua and Whyte on visits to the UK, faced an unstoppable force. Itauma secured the win in the fifth round after 1 minute and 33 seconds, showcasing his precision and power.
Itauma reflected on the bout: “I’ve had a lovely time. This is where I won my first national title. We come here seven years later, and I’m picking up a win over Franklin. I tried to knock him out in the first or second round, but maybe not today. So I went back to the basics, and the knockout just came. I’m just a young boy chasing a dream.”
Round-by-Round Domination
Itauma controlled the fight from the opening bell. In the first round, he sent Franklin stumbling into the ropes with powerful shots. The second round brought more punishment, but Franklin’s sturdy frame absorbed the blows. The third saw Franklin hit the canvas from a vicious right hand.
By the fourth, Itauma mixed combinations with heavy punches, while Franklin landed a few counters but remained under siege. The end came in the fifth: a left uppercut dropped Franklin, followed by a straight right that ensured he stayed down.
Path to World Title Glory
Promoter Frank Warren hailed Itauma’s potential and pledged a world title opportunity soon, possibly against the winner of the WBO belt clash between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois at the same venue. Even undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk may take notice of the rising threat from southeast England.
Former light-middleweight world champion Liam Smith praised Itauma on X: “He’s some fighter this kid. I’m putting it out there, I think he beats Usyk.”
Itauma remains unbeaten and positions himself as a future heavyweight ruler, with Manchester solidifying its role as a hub for major boxing events amid a packed schedule including upcoming fights featuring Deontay Wilder, Derek Chisora, and Tyson Fury.
