Itauma stops Franklin cold - what next for rising heavyweight?

Briton Moses Itauma reinforced his status as one of heavyweight boxing’s brightest stars with a destructive fifth-round stoppage of Jermaine Franklin at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.

The 21-year-old methodically broke down the American – who had been brought in as a genuine test – landing crisp combinations and heavy power punches.

Franklin climbed off the canvas in the third round, but was knocked out cold in the fifth by a clean uppercut.

“The first two rounds I thought it would go the distance. Then in the fifth round when I caught with him the uppercut, I thought ‘did I really do that?'” Itauma said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Talk will now turn to bigger fights and world-titles after the unbeaten prospect recorded his 12th stoppage in 14 professional fights.

Franklin – stopped for the first time in 27 bouts – had previously only been beaten by British fighters Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

Itauma said he would “love to fight” unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk but added he will “sit and wait my turn”. His promoter, Frank Warren, said the Chatham heavyweight will be back out in July.

‘It’s a breakdown job’ – Itauma picks apart Franklin

Itauma is in a good position in several rankings for a world title shot [PA Media]

Around 16,000 fans packed into the Manchester arena bought into the Itauma buzz, greeting him with a warm roar as he was walked to the ring by British rapper Meekz.

Itauma – the prodigy who was sparring seasoned professionals while still at school – was in wonderful form from the first bell, using his speed and variation to send Franklin backtracking.

In truth, the knockout felt inevitable even when 32-year-old Franklin managed to recover from a third-round right hand that sent him crashing to the floor.

Working behind a jab and picking his shots wisely, Itauma avoided anything reckless. “It’s a breakdown job,” trainer Ben Davison aptly told him between rounds.

This was another night that thrilled and told us a little more about the rising heavyweight.

Itauma’s devastating power is undeniable, once again on display as he dispatched a seasoned opponent inside the first half of the fight.

But the bigger questions remain.

His chin has yet to be properly tested. Franklin landed a right in the fourth, and Itauma just smiled, but he will face bigger punches in the future.

And while the knockouts keep coming, he is still unproven beyond six rounds, with his engine and endurance untested at the highest level.

Promoter Warren expects Itauma to fight for a world title this year.

Within boxing circles, that talk may be slightly premature but Itauma is keeping pace with two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.

At the same stage of his career, Joshua beat Gary Cornish to register a 14th stoppage and was selling out the O2 Arena. Itauma is on a similar trajectory, almost filling the Co-op Live Arena – and arguably facing higher-level opponents along the way.

The key step-up for Joshua came in his 15th fight: a win over Dillian Whyte for the British title, which developed his resolve and enhanced his profile.

By his 17th, he was world champion after defeating Charles Martin.

What next for Itauma?

Itauma’s team now faces a choice: continue the gradual build, letting rounds come naturally against carefully selected opponents, or push him into deeper waters against fighters capable of testing him more fully.

Names like Filip Hrgovic represent a significant leap – opponents unlikely to be blown away early and more likely to ask serious questions.

Domestically, Lawrence Okolie, with his awkward, grappling-heavy style, could offer a different kind of challenge.

WBO champion Fabio Wardley holds the division’s other belt, but with both fighters trained by Ben Davison, a meeting with Itauma in the near future appears unlikely.

Is he ready for the likes of generational great Usyk? Maybe.

But what we do know, for now, is that the power is real and – so far – the hype is justified.