Moses Itauma Stops Jermaine Franklin as Conditioning Issues Show

Moses Itauma stopped Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round of their heavyweight fight after taking control early. Itauma landed the sharper punches and timed Franklin coming forward, keeping him on the end of his shots. Franklin tried to push ahead behind a high guard but struggled to land anything clean.

The finish came in the fifth round after Itauma stepped up the pace. A right hook landed clean, followed by a left hand that left Franklin unsteady. Itauma closed the distance and drove a left uppercut through the middle, leaving Franklin out on his feet before he fell face-first to the canvas. The referee waved it off immediately without a count.

Franklin had previously built a reputation for durability, going the distance in tough fights, but he could not handle the speed or power here. Itauma’s shots were landing first and with more force throughout, and once Franklin began to slow, the ending felt inevitable.

While Franklin is only 32, he has been in some grueling battles. Skeptics will argue that the version of Franklin who fought Joshua is not the one who showed up tonight. If a fighter’s chin starts to go, a “fringe contender” can quickly look like a heavy bag for a rising star.

The stoppage marked the first time Franklin has been halted, and the performance showed the difference between a prospect moving forward and an opponent who did not arrive in the same condition as before.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has managed Itauma perfectly so far, but after tonight, there aren’t many “safe” steps left. He is likely one fight away from a mandatory position for a world title or a massive domestic clash.