Moses Itauma made another emphatic statement on Saturday night in Manchester as the British-Nigerian heavyweight prospect became the first fighter to stop Jermaine Franklin, Sky Sports reports.
The 21-year-old, already considered one of the brightest talents in heavyweight boxing, continues to draw attention as a potential future world champion.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte had previously gone the distance against Franklin in the UK, but the durable American was brutally taken out midway through the fifth round by Itauma.
Having knocked Franklin down in the third, Itauma delivered a punishing left uppercut followed by a right hand that sent Franklin crashing face-first to the canvas.
Referee Steve Gray immediately waved off the contest as Itauma acknowledged the sold-out Co-op Live Arena crowd, improving his professional record to 14-0 and strengthening calls for a world title opportunity.
Itauma admitted that Franklin was the “final piece of the puzzle” before a world title fight. With Oleksandr Usyk and Fabio Wardley holding the four major belts between them, Franklin was lined up as an opponent to test Itauma’s resilience and readiness.
While Franklin absorbed heavy blows to give Itauma rounds in the legs, the fight highlighted the gulf in class, with the young fighter demonstrating superior speed, footwork, and ringcraft.
From the outset, Itauma landed multiple southpaw lefts that rocked Franklin’s head, though the American remained upright. Despite having stopped his last nine opponents inside two rounds, Franklin endured longer but could not withstand Itauma’s power.
A short right hook behind Franklin’s ear near the end of the fourth round prompted an eight count, following a brief lapse in concentration against the ropes. Franklin recovered into the fourth round, but the fifth produced a highlight-reel knockout that thrilled fans.
Itauma was born in Kežmarok, Slovakia, to a Nigerian father and Slovak mother. Reflecting on his early life, he revealed, “Me and my brothers got racially abused. It wasn’t a good place to be.”
This prompted the family to move to England in 2008, with Moses being the last member to relocate.
Before turning professional, Itauma had an unbeaten amateur career, finishing with 24 wins, including 11 by knockout, showcasing the skill set and composure that has made him one of the sport’s most exciting young heavyweights.
