Moses Itauma Meets Jermaine Franklin March 28

Unbeaten heavyweight prospect meets durable contender as he pushes toward world title contention

Moses Itauma returns on March 28 when he faces Jermaine Franklin in a heavyweight bout. The unbeaten British prospect meets a proven opponent as he continues his rise in the division.

Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) has moved quickly through his early fights, stopping most of his opposition inside the distance. Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) provides a different assignment. The American has only lost to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte and went the distance with both, showing the kind of chin and conditioning that can force a prospect to work for rounds.

The matchup gives Itauma a chance to prove he can break down a heavyweight who knows how to survive and keep firing back.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Itauma said he already believes he belongs among the leading heavyweights.

“I feel like I am. I just have to prove it,” Itauma said.

Franklin’s style usually brings fights into the middle and late rounds. He keeps coming forward, throws combinations when he gets inside, and is comfortable making a fight physical if opponents try to outbox him.

Itauma lets combinations go once he has the range where he wants it. The southpaw has also shown the ability to bring uppercuts and left hooks into his attacks when opponents try to close distance.

Despite the attention around his rise, Itauma says his attention remains on the opponent in front of him.

“Jermaine Franklin’s going to be a good fight, I’m looking forward to it,” Itauma said.

“Jermaine Franklin’s got a job, I’ve got a job and people outside the ring, they’ve got their job to talk.”

The 21-year-old also made clear he is not looking past the assignment.

“Let me tell you something, the past and the future don’t exist, it’s only the present and in the present I’ve got Jermaine Franklin.”

Trainer Ben Davison believes the interest surrounding Itauma reflects the ability he sees developing in the young heavyweight.

“I think he’s got the potential to be something that we haven’t seen before, in the sense of the true pound-for-pound best boxer in the world as a heavyweight,” Davison told Sky Sports.

“Work to do, we’re not there yet obviously. He has the potential to do that.”

For Itauma, the March 28 fight represents another step in his development. Franklin’s toughness means the contest could reveal how the young heavyweight handles a longer, more demanding night in the ring.

Share on Facebook

Post on X