In August of last year, undefeated Heavyweight contender Moses Itauma was tasked with what many felt would be the first significant test of his career when he was pitted against longtime Heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Despite being one of the top Heavyweights of the last fifteen years and having a significant experience advantage over the young and unbeaten “Knockout Artist,” Whyte found himself on the receiving end of a brutal first round knockout loss as many previous Itauma opponents have found themselves.
The eleventh knockout in thirteen professional bouts for the twenty-one year old current Commonwealth Heavyweight champion seemed to serve as another example of evidence some are pointing to, to annoint Itauma as potentially the next marquee Heavyweight and future world champion. As emphatic as that knockout of the normally durable and always “Game” Whyte was, the question remains, who can provide Moses Itauma with a significant test. It is a question that is often asked of prospects as they work their way towards world contention with the aim of trying to become a world champion. In this case, however, Itauma’s ability to score quick and often devastating knockouts has presented a unique situation, in that despite the limited resume of only having thirteen professional fights, he already appears to be on the doorstep of a world title shot in the near future. The question, therefore, should be, whether Itauma will be put to the test before he faces a world champion?
Perhaps that question will be answered on March 28th at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England where he will face veteran Heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in a scheduled twelve round bout that can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN. Much as was the case when Itauma fought Whyte last summer, the question here has already been stated, can Franklin provide Itauma with a significant test that Whyte could not?
The irony here is Franklin, who will enter the bout with a record of 24-2, with 15 Knockouts, does have Whyte in common with Itauma as a previous previous opponent, who fought Whyte in November 2022 and in the opinion of some, deserved the decision in that fight that went to Whyte. Franklin's other previous loss came against former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua, who also defeated him via decision. While Franklin’s two setbacks have come against top level competition, he has not succeeded to this point when he has stepped up in terms of getting his hand raised in victory. What Franklin does have going for him is he's proven to be a world-class boxer and has held his own in his two losses. He has also proven to be durable and has not been dropped up to this point in his career.
Whether or not Franklin can extend Itauma into the middle and late rounds of the fight remains to be seen, but it is logical to assume that he will have to weather a storm of punching power earlier on to attempt to get into the middle rounds and beyond. What will be interesting to this observer is to see if Franklin tries to implement a tactical approach with an emphasis on being more defensive than would be his norm early in the fight having seen what happened to Dillian Whyte when he faced Itauma.
It goes without saying, however, that, despite his limited resume, Moses Itauma has now entered a point in his young career where the stakes will increase with each fight as he continues to push towards a shot at a World Heavyweight championship. Meanwhile, Jermaine Franklin likely sees this as a chance to catapult himself back into the discussion of future challengers and a win here against a fighter of Itauma’s reputation might end up putting him on a short list of such discussion. Put simply it is a fight where both fighters have a lot to gain here and a setback for either will likely push them to the back of the line as there are always fighters looking to maneuver themselves up into position to challenge for a world title.
“And That's The Boxing Truth.”
Itauma vs. Franklin takes place on Saturday, March 28th at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester, England. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen worldwide on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN with preliminary bouts beginning at 11AM ET/8AM PT with the main card beginning at 1PM ET/10AM PT.
(*North American times only.* *Card and Start times Subject to Change.*)
For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com.
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