MANCHESTER, England – Moses Itauma passed his toughest test with flying colours, brutally knocking out Jermaine Franklin inside five rounds at Manchester’s Co-op Live.
The experienced and durable Franklin had been brought in with the hope that he would give the hard-hitting Itauma rounds. The 21-year-old had looked frightening in his previous three contests, finishing Demsey McKean, Mike Balogun and Dillian Whyte early with his vicious left hand. The travelling American had taken both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte the distance in his only two prior defeats, but Itauma was too much. Far too much.
The Briton was spiteful from the off and showed composure when it looked like his tricky foe might last longer than Itauma's previous rivals. In the end, Itauma found the shot to end things, smashing a left uppercut into Franklin’s chin, following with another blow to compound the discombobulation, and sending the American face first into the canvas at 1-33 of Round 5.
“I’m happy to get the win, the Lord is good. Manchester is where I won my first national title and seven years later I’m back here beating Jermaine Franklin – who has been beaten by some great heavyweights,” said Itauma post-fight. “I tried to knock him out in the first and second rounds, but I thought, ‘Ahh maybe not today,’ so I went back to basics and the knockout came.”
The now 14-0 (12 KOs) Itauma sits in pole position with two of the sanctioning bodies and his promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, believes his prized youngster is nearing his shot.
“[His next fight] will be in July,” said Warren when asked what’s next. “He’s No.1 in WBO, No.1 in WBA. There’s a lot of things happening right now, but we will sort something out. It will be a big, big fight, because he’s a big, big fighter. I’m pretty confident he’ll fight for a world title soon.”
Itauma admitted he had his eyes on another durable foe for his next outing in July.
“I thought I was able to win titles, man, but I didn't think it would be this soon,” Itauma said. “I’m just a young boy chasing his dream. I wanted the [Filip] Hrgovic fight [next]. but he’s boxing Dave Allen. I don’t know, we’ll go back to the drawing boards and get someone new soon.”
Itauma, of Chatham, Kent, wasted no time from the opening bell, instantly pressing Franklin against the ropes with his fast feet and unleashing on his foe. Franklin, 32 and from Saginaw, Michigan, was desperately trying to cover up, but Itauma was finding room for shots around the American’s arms. A well-placed left hand buckled Franklin’s legs late into the session, but Franklin used his experience to survive.
Itauma didn’t have it all his own way, though, and in the second Franklin started to let his hands go. Franklin caught Itauma with a short right hand that sprayed sweat off the youngster's hair. Itauma didn’t take too kindly to it and instantly smashed his left hand into Franklin’s face. The shot certainly hurt the American, but Franklin stuck his tongue out and fired one back.
Itauma made the first real dent in Franklin late into the third, when a short right hand to the top of the head sent Franklin tumbling down. It looked like Itauma was just one punch away, but Franklin fought back with a right hand to turn the tide. The fourth began and Itauma started to take his time, almost toying with Franklin before landing his lead right hand. Itauma was dazzling Franklin, jabbing away at him before placing his shots into the American’s fleshy midsection.
Itauma switched his attacks to the head midway through the fifth and it was curtains for the usually tough Franklin. Neither Joshua nor Whyte had managed to get the America to touch the canvas, but a left uppercut from Itauma sent Franklin stumbling to the floor. A hard right on the way down from Itauma sent Franklin falling face first, with Steve Gray waving the contest off before the American even hit the floor. Itauma seemed unfazed by his knockout win, he waved to the crowd with the same composure as he did when entering the ring.
Tougher tests lie ahead for Itauma, but he is certainly the most exciting prospect in the entire sport.
Franklin fell to 24-3 (15 KOs) after the first stoppage defeat of his career.
