Moses Itauma announced his arrival in the division when he stopped Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round, leaving little doubt he’s ready to mix with the sport’s best. Franklin — who had previously gone the distance with Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte — came in as a significant step up for the 21-year-old, but he couldn’t handle Itauma’s in-and-out movement, deceptive feints and quick hands.
The fight ended with a thunderous uppercut that extinguished Franklin’s resistance and completed a composed, authoritative performance from the young Brit. After the win Itauma said he’s willing to fight anyone, but he doubts the current marquee names will give him an opportunity before they move on from the sport.
He stressed that his focus is climbing the rankings and earning a title shot rather than calling out established champions. Asked whether the division’s big names should want a bout with him, he replied that they ought to — even if he doesn’t expect them to bite. He also made clear he’d accept a fight with unified champion Oleksandr Usyk if the chance ever came.
Itauma is set to become the WBO mandatory challenger after the upcoming title match between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois next month. With Wardley training at the same gym as Itauma, a clash against Dubois would be the more appealing route for him. Both Wardley and Dubois watched Itauma’s knockout live.
Speaking about his rivals’ reactions, Itauma suggested neither looked overly alarmed publicly, though privately they likely registered the impact of his performance. He said a future opponent will depend on next month’s result: if Wardley wins it could complicate matters because of their gym ties, but a Dubois victory would be a natural and attractive next step.
For now, Itauma is content to keep progressing through the rankings and let the opportunities present themselves — confident his recent showing deserves attention from the division’s top fighters.