Moses Itauma Torn Bicep Stalls Heavyweight Fight Against Franklin

Frank Warren confirmed Moses Itauma suffered a torn bicep that made fighting impossible. The Queensberry promoter explained the situation during an appearance on the Clubhouse Boxing podcast, detailing how an initial rest period failed to resolve the problem.

“He was giving it a rest and the feeling was it would be okay but he went and had another MRI and it’s torn,” Warren said. “A specialist has said it’s impossible for him to fight and we’re not going to let him fight if he’s not ready to.”

The postponement pushes the entire Magnificent Seven card from January to March 28th. Warren acknowledged the difficulty for all fighters involved, many of whom trained through Christmas in preparation. The Manchester show had sold out before the announcement.

Extended Absence for Both Men

The delay stretches Itauma’s layoff to seven months. His last appearance came in August when he stopped Dillian Whyte inside one round, a statement performance that elevated him into serious contention. The 21-year-old heavyweight has compiled 11 straight stoppages since turning professional.

Franklin faces a similar wait. The American last fought in September, outpointing Ivan Dychko on a major Saudi card. His previous bout against Whyte in 2022 ended in a majority decision loss that remains disputed. This postponement extends his pursuit of another significant opportunity.

Ticket holders have two options. They can keep their tickets for the rescheduled date or request refunds. Warren indicated the promotion would support fighters financially if needed during the unexpected break, though he stressed the decision came down to medical necessity rather than choice.