Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin: Heavyweight Clash in Manchester
British heavyweight sensation Moses Itauma is set to battle American veteran Jermaine Franklin this weekend in a highly anticipated rearranged fight. The showdown will take place at Manchester's Co-op Live on Saturday, March 28, serving as the main event of the Magnificent 7 card. Fans can now purchase access to the bout, which promises to be a thrilling encounter between two formidable fighters.
Background and Fighter Profiles
The fight was originally scheduled for January but was postponed after Itauma sustained a late bicep injury. At just 21 years old, Itauma enters the ring with an impeccable 13-0 record, including 11 knockouts. His most recent performance was particularly impressive, as he delivered a devastating first-round knockout to Dillian Whyte in under two minutes.
Following that victory, Queensberry founder Frank Warren praised Itauma, calling him "the best talent I've seen at such a young age." In an interview with The Ring, Warren elaborated, "I've been in this sport for many, many years, and to be honest, a 20 year old fighter at this level – 13 fights – is the best at this stage of his career I've ever been involved with, without a doubt."
However, Itauma will face a tough challenge in the experienced Franklin, who is 32 years old and boasts an impressive 24-2 record with 15 knockouts. Boxing enthusiasts will remember Franklin's performance against Anthony Joshua in 2023, where he went the full 12 rounds before losing on points. Since that contest, Franklin has secured three consecutive victories, including a disputed decision against Ivan Dychko.
How to Watch the Fight
The Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin fight takes place on Saturday, March 28. The live broadcast begins at 5pm, with the ringwalks for Itauma and Franklin anticipated at 11pm. The bout will be available to stream live via a DAZN subscription, rather than as a pay-per-view purchase. This means viewers will need either a monthly or annual DAZN subscription to watch.
Prices start at £15.99 per month on an annual pay-monthly plan, or £25.99 on a monthly rolling plan that can be cancelled with 30 days' notice. The fight is also included in the DAZN Ultimate package, which costs £24.99 per month or £249.99 per year. This package offers additional benefits, including more than 185 fights and at least 12 pay-per-view events annually at no extra cost, such as Chisora vs Wilder on April 4 and Wardley vs Dubois on May 9.
DAZN states that its Ultimate plan can save members around £320 per year compared to purchasing 12 individual pay-per-view fights. It also provides HDR and Dolby 5.1 surround sound on selected events and covers every match in the Italian Serie A. Alternatively, the fight will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Due to DAZN's exclusive TV rights, the bout will not be shown on Sky Sports or TNT Sports.
Full Fight Card Details
The Magnificent 7 card features a stacked lineup of bouts, headlined by the heavyweight clash. Here is the complete fight card for the event:
- Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin (heavyweight)
- Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton (middleweight)
- Ezra Taylor vs Willy Hutchinson (light heavyweight)
- Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls (middleweight)
- Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli (featherweight)
- Alex Murphy vs Josh Homes (lightweight)
- Michael Gomez Jr. vs Jordan Flynn (lightweight)
This event marks a significant moment in British boxing, with Itauma looking to maintain his undefeated record against a seasoned opponent. Fans are eagerly awaiting this clash, which could have implications for the future of the heavyweight division.
