Itauma Makes Resounding Statement with First-Round Stoppage of Franklin

Moses Itauma delivered a powerful performance, becoming the first boxer to stop Jermaine Franklin in his career. In a significant upset, Itauma outperformed Franklin, who had previously gone the distance with notable boxers Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in the UK. However, Itauma's exceptional skill and strength led to a brutal stoppage in the fifth round in Manchester. Itauma initially knocked Franklin down in the third round and then finished the fight with a devastating combination, including a left uppercut and a right hand that sent Franklin crashing to the canvas. Referee Steve Gray immediately stopped the contest, and Itauma celebrated his 14-0 record with a bow to the sold-out crowd at the Co-op Live Arena. This victory will likely amplify calls for the 21-year-old to compete for a world title soon. Itauma acknowledged that Franklin was a crucial test before pursuing a world title, given that Oleksandr Usyk and Fabio Wardley currently hold the major belts. Franklin's robustness made him an ideal opponent for Itauma. Although Franklin withstood several intense blows, there was a noticeable difference in class between the two fighters, with Itauma showcasing superior speed, footwork, and overall ringcraft. Following a performance by Meekz, Itauma quickly took control of the fight, landing multiple southpaw lefts that rocked Franklin's head. Itauma had stopped his last nine opponents within two rounds, and although Franklin surpassed that threshold, he eventually fell to another massive left. In the next round, Franklin received an eight count after a short right hook behind his ear, having briefly taken his focus off Itauma when backed against the ropes. Franklin recovered well in the fourth round, but the end came abruptly in the fifth as Itauma secured another highlight-reel knockout, much to the crowd's delight. Itauma is currently ranked as the number one challenger in the WBO and WBA rankings and third in the WBC rankings. His promoter, Frank Warren, believes Itauma could target a world title this year if unified champion Oleksandr Usyk vacates one of his belts. Usyk, who holds the WBC, IBF, and WBA belts, must make a mandatory defense of his WBC title after his upcoming fight against Rico Verhoeven in May. Warren stated, 'Well, Usyk is fighting in Egypt. After that fight, he'll be ordered to defend his WBC title, which is against Agit Kabayel, and if he doesn't do that, he'll get stripped, and then the next organization will order him to defend his belt.' Itauma expressed his gratitude to the Manchester crowd, saying, 'Thank you very much to the great Manchester crowd; I've had a lovely time. I'm happy to get the win. I've enjoyed my stay in Manchester, this is actually where I won my first national title. We come here seven years later, I'm picking up a win over Franklin.' Itauma also thanked Franklin for the opportunity, acknowledging that it takes two participants to make a fight happen. He attributed his success to his faith, saying, 'I don't know what to say, the Lord is good. I tried to knock him out in the first or second round, but maybe not today. So I went back to the basics, and the knockout just came.' Itauma reflected on his journey, saying, 'When I first turned professional, I thought I would win titles, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I'm just a young boy chasing a dream.'