British Heavyweight Prospect Moses Itauma Battles Jermaine Franklin in Manchester
Young British heavyweight Moses Itauma is set to face American opponent Jermaine Franklin in a significant bout at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester this weekend. The fight represents a crucial step for Itauma as he continues his ascent towards a potential world title shot in the competitive heavyweight division.
Rising Star Itauma Returns to Home Soil
Moses Itauma, aged just 21, has already established himself as one of Britain's most promising boxing talents with an impressive professional record of 13 victories and no defeats. His record includes 11 knockouts, demonstrating significant power for such a young fighter. Itauma's most recent performance was particularly noteworthy, as he stopped veteran Dillian Whyte in a mere 119 seconds during their encounter in Saudi Arabia.
The Kent-born fighter now returns to British soil for this weekend's contest, which was originally scheduled for January but had to be postponed due to an injury sustained by Itauma. His opponent, Jermaine Franklin, brings considerable experience to the ring despite being seen as a substantial underdog by bookmakers.
Franklin's Credentials and Fighting History
Jermaine Franklin, aged 32, holds a professional record of 24 wins against just 2 losses, with 15 of those victories coming by way of knockout. The American fighter has faced high-level competition previously, including a controversial decision loss to Dillian Whyte in 2022 and a points defeat to former world champion Anthony Joshua in 2023.
These two defeats represent the only blemishes on Franklin's career record, making him a sensible and credible test for the rising British star. Franklin's experience against top-tier opposition provides valuable context for this matchup, as Itauma looks to prove he can handle seasoned professionals on his path to championship contention.
Fight Details and Viewing Information
The Itauma versus Franklin heavyweight contest will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Manchester's Co-op Live arena. The main card is scheduled to commence at 5:00 PM Greenwich Mean Time, with the main event ring walks expected approximately six hours later at 11:00 PM GMT.
For viewers worldwide, the event will be streamed exclusively on the DAZN platform. DAZN subscriptions are available starting from £15.99 per month, providing access to this fight along with numerous other boxing events throughout the year.
Betting Odds and Full Fight Card
According to major betting platforms, Moses Itauma enters this contest as a substantial favorite. Current odds position Itauma at 1/20 to win, while Franklin stands at 10/1 as the underdog. A draw is priced at 20/1, reflecting the expectation that Itauma will continue his undefeated streak.
The complete fight card for the evening includes several other intriguing matchups:
- Nathan Heaney versus Gerome Warburton (middleweight)
- Ezra Taylor versus Willy Hutchinson (light-heavyweight)
- Shakiel Thompson versus Brad Pauls (middleweight)
- Liam Davies versus Francesco Grandelli (featherweight)
- Alex Murphy versus Josh Holmes (lightweight)
- Michael Gomez Jr versus Jordan Flynn (lightweight)
All bouts are subject to potential changes as fight night approaches. This event promises to deliver exciting action for boxing enthusiasts as Moses Itauma continues his development against an experienced American opponent in Jermaine Franklin.
