Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma could be catapulted into a world title fight before the end of the year after delivering a stunning fifth-round stoppage victory over Jermaine Franklin in Manchester. The 21-year-old phenom extended his perfect professional record to 14 wins from 14 bouts, with 12 coming by way of knockout, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Co-op Live Arena.
Promoter Plans Swift Path to Championship Glory
Promoter Frank Warren has outlined an ambitious timeline for Itauma, indicating that the young fighter will likely have one more preparatory bout in July before challenging for a world championship later in 2026. Warren expressed strong confidence that Itauma will compete for either the WBC, WBA, IBF, or WBO heavyweight belts this year, stating, "There's a lot of fights over the next months, we will sort something out. I'm pretty confident he will fight for a world title this year."
Dominant Performance Against a Resilient Opponent
Itauma's victory over Franklin was particularly impressive given the American's reputation for durability. Franklin had never been stopped in his 26-fight professional career, having gone the distance in his only previous defeats against former world champions Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. Brought in specifically to test Itauma over multiple rounds, Franklin absorbed significant punishment throughout the contest but ultimately succumbed to Itauma's superior speed, footwork, and ringcraft.
The fight saw Itauma knock Franklin down with a powerful blow behind the left ear in the third round after backing him against the ropes. Although Franklin managed to rise, he was sent crashing face-first to the canvas two rounds later following a devastating combination from Itauma—a sharp left uppercut followed immediately by a right hook for good measure. The first punch appeared to leave Franklin disoriented, and Itauma left no doubt with the follow-up, prompting the referee's intervention despite some protest from Franklin's corner.
Itauma Reflects on Rapid Rise and Future Ambitions
Following his victory, Itauma expressed gratitude to Franklin for accepting the challenge, remarking, "I've got to thank Jermaine Franklin for giving me this opportunity because it takes two to tango. I appreciate it." He acknowledged adjusting his strategy after failing to secure an early knockout, saying, "I tried to knock him out in the first or second round, but maybe not today, so I went back to the basics, switching down to the body, and the knockout just came. It's the shot you don't see."
Itauma admitted his rapid ascent has exceeded even his own expectations, noting, "When I first turned professional, I thought I was able to win titles but I didn't think it would be so soon. I'm just a young boy chasing his dream."
Potential Opponents and Title Landscape
The current unified world champion, Oleksandr Usyk, previously dismissed the idea of facing Itauma due to the young fighter's age and relative inexperience. Usyk is instead scheduled to face former kickboxing world champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt. Meanwhile, Fabio Wardley will defend his WBO title against Daniel Dubois two weeks earlier, with the winner potentially being matched against Itauma—all three fighters are promoted by Frank Warren.
Itauma has also expressed interest in a showdown with Filip Hrgovic, a former IBF interim title challenger, although Hrgovic is set to face Dave Allen in Doncaster in May. Itauma remains focused on his next steps, stating, "We will go back to the drawing board and see who's there, see who's available, I'll be back soon."
This victory solidifies Itauma's status as one of the most exciting young talents in the heavyweight division, with a world title shot now firmly within his grasp as he continues his remarkable undefeated run.
