British heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma has declared he will bide his time and respect the established pecking order in boxing's glamour division, despite amplifying calls for a future showdown with unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk following his devastating stoppage of Jermaine Franklin.
Itauma's Pragmatic Approach to Usyk Challenge
Itauma, who moved to a perfect 14-0 professional record with 12 stoppages after halting Franklin midway through the fifth round in Manchester on Saturday night, offered a measured response when asked whether this victory could lure Usyk into a future bout. The 21-year-old Kent fighter demonstrated both power and poise in a dominant performance that saw him become the first man to stop Franklin in his 27-fight career—an achievement that eluded British rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
"Listen, Usyk has earned the right to do whatever he wants," Itauma stated emphatically. "There's a pecking order that obviously I've got to respect. I don't pay attention to any of that, I don't really care what any of these other heavyweights think or feel. I know what the truth is and I know the ability that I'm capable of. Now I've got to go out there and show it."
Rapid Rise Through Heavyweight Ranks
Itauma's stunning victory over Franklin represents another significant step in his rapid ascent through boxing's most competitive division. The young Briton, who only recently turned 21, now boasts knockout victories over established names including Dillian Whyte, Demsey McKean, and now Franklin—creating an impressive resume that belies his relative inexperience.
"I've just turned 21, I've got Dillian Whyte, Demsey McKean, now Jermaine Franklin—knockouts, by the way—under my belt," Itauma reflected. "I always knew I could do this but I didn't think it would be so soon. I've done what some other British heavyweights couldn't do and they've gone on to achieve successful things. So what's the limit for me?"
World Title Ambitions and Immediate Targets
While Usyk prepares for his upcoming bout against former world kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, Itauma's promoter Frank Warren is already planning the next move for his rising star. Warren aims to have Itauma back in the ring by July, with world title aspirations firmly on the horizon for later in the year.
The young heavyweight's standing in sanctioning body rankings has received a significant boost following his Manchester triumph. Itauma now occupies the number one challenger position in both the WBO and WBA rankings, with WBO president Gustavo Olivieri publicly stating he will "formally recommend" Itauma be installed as mandatory challenger for the organization's title.
Hrgovic Fight Tops Wishlist
Looking ahead, Itauma revealed that a bout with former IBF interim title challenger Filip Hrgovic sits at the top of his immediate wishlist, though the Croatian's scheduled fight against Dave Allen in Doncaster on May 16 presents a temporary obstacle.
"I just like the Hrgovic fight," Itauma explained. "It's nothing personal to these fighters. I've always just tried to strive for greatness and Hrgovic is a great fight for me. But he's boxing Dave Allen so we've just got to go back to the drawing board and see who's available."
Reflecting on his comprehensive victory over Franklin, Itauma expressed satisfaction with his performance while acknowledging there are still questions to answer in his developing career. "I don't think the fight could have gone much better," he assessed. "I went the rounds that were necessary, I got the job done and for all you lot who wanted to ask me if I had a chin, I took a shot as well. I finally answered some questions and now it's about what's next."
As the heavyweight division continues to evolve with new contenders emerging, Moses Itauma's combination of respect for boxing's traditions and undeniable talent suggests he may not need to wait too long for his shot at the sport's ultimate prizes.
