Comments Thread For: Ahead of Jermanine Franklin fight, Moses Itauma is one-step from fighting for a world title

[BoxingUpdates]

MANCHESTER ? Moses Itauma has promised to answer his critics when he takes on Jermaine Franklin on January 24 in Manchester, England.
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[PRINCEKOOL]

Fighting a version of Dillian Whyte, miles outside of his peak 'and now an out of condition Jermaine Franklin by his recent standards. Is not really great preparation for a World title challenger'.

I thought Frank Warren and Queensbury boxing, where meant to be experts at building and developing fighters? They have been for the majority of their careers, but if people in the game think Itauma is ready to become a World Champion. And then remain as a dominant World Champion, just because he has blasted out a few stylistically manufactured opponents. Then in my opinion, Moses Itauma is not being managed for developed correctly as a fighter of his perceived calibre'.

Note: Before Moses Itauma fought Dillian Whyte, I believed stylistically Joe Joyce 'would have been a much better fight for him. And before his most recent fight against Jermaine Franklin was announced, fights against Frank Sanchez, Efe Ajagba or Martin Bakole where all better challengers and development fights for Itauma'.

Nevertheless, Moses Itauma is rising in the game at a very opportune time 'the Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder Heavyweight era is in its conclusive stages. Oleksandr Uysk as the current undisputed champion, in all honesty? Does not appear to really have a massive appetite to defend his titles'.

In reality? Uysk has defended his titles against all the fighters that matter from his heavyweight era 'I don't think fighters such as Moses Itauma really deserve an undisputed title fight vs Oleksandr Uysk. Itauma was not a top level amateur fighter, and he has achieved nothing much in the professional ranks so far in his career'.

Soon enough people are going to want to see Moses Itauma matched in real high jeopardy fights 'not fights where even surface level fans of the sports, can see that his wins are being manufactured. Itauma is being matched to win at this stage of his career, but fighters only develop their skills if they extend themselves inside the boxing ring'.

When Anthony Joshua fought Wladimir Kiltschko in his 19th professional fight 'At Wembley Stadium front of 90'000 + spectators. He was extending himself as a fighter, and World Heavyweight Champion'

To conclude: Moses Itauma so far in his career, has not really been asked to extend himself in a fight 'the opportunity was potentially there vs Frank Sanchez, but for whatever reason his team decided to turn down that fight'.

If Moses Itauma keeps winning, and the titles become vacate he should acquire a title fight ' but then he needs serious development as a fighter, to remain a Champion in the game' etc.

[VislorTurlough]

Ignore what fish eyes says and watch what he does. “Ready for the top names” - then picks Franklin. He was so furious by the Pulev situation because the plan was always win a fake belt. The Charles Martin path. Good business but a whole lot of bollocks

[RingoKid]

Itauma will win a world champ the same way Wardley did; with a healthy dose of home cooked fisheye chowder a sprinkle of controversy and a garnish of selective drug testing.

And then he and Wardley will hold the belts to ransom, age out, duck, cherrypick and low ball all contenders for years to come...

...just like Fury and AJ did.

[Hooded Terror]

It's funny. Years ago, maybe around 1986, I recall reading an article in KO Magazine or maybe The Ring. It was back during the period where the heavyweight division was just about completely tied-up under Don King. Tim Witherspoon had just beaten Frank Bruno and the writer of the article had effectively denigrated UK heavyweights as a whole, suggesting that they always crumble and would likely never annex a major world title, Bruno being the latest to underline that notion. Just a few short years later Lennox Lewis turned that all around. Fast forward to 2025 and UK heavies have completely usurped American heavies, the great Oleksandr Usyk aside. And just as back then, the WBA strap is akin to the town bike, passed around to anyone and everyone for a ride.

[PBR Streetgang]

The Franklin fight isn't bad, perhaps Jermaine will give him rounds. It's not a dangerous fight because even if he's durable, Franklin won't really push Itauma nor does he have the power to change the fight suddenly.

I think the thing that most fans wonder is what happens when Itauma is in there with someone that has power and is willing/capable of taking a punch to land one of their own.

[RockyKO]

Not sure why people are suggesting that Itauma is ready for Bakole or Frank Sanchez, when he's clearly a few fights away from someone in the top 30. I'm happy for Franklin because he deserves a big fight after his recent performances. If you want to see a good slugfest then go watch the Jermaine Franklin Devin Vargas fight. Franklin is very sturdy, reliable, and can take and give it right back. I know we're not high on American heavyweights, but Franklin is in the upper echelon over here.