Young British heavyweight Moses Itauma confirmed he’s the new real deal with a stunning knockout of American Jermaine Franklin in Manchester, England Saturday night (28 March).
The ever-increasing hype around him and pressure that could’ve ensued, was made immaterial with the emphatic manner he broke down, disbanded and destroyed the heavyweight contender.
Franklin was dropped in the third round before finally succumbing on 1:33 of the fifth.
The Englishman’s devastating final left uppercut rendered the Michigan man incapacitated within a second of it detonating on his chin. Franklin going in, had never before been stopped and was competitive through four completed rounds, using his guile and top level experience to evade Itauma’s calculated aggression.
As the American returned to his corner at the end of the third and fourth you could the increasing anxiety the Englishman was causing him and Franklin’s increased decay of stamina reserves. True, Itauma was also breathing heavy, but that was more through intensity and excitement.
The end was as emphatic as it can come by the man from Chatham, Kent. A devastating left uppercut out of a southpaw sortie.
This was a surefire addition to 21-year-old Itauma’s highlights reel, and one that instantly reminded of Mike Tyson steamrolling through the division to become undisputed king in the late-1980’s. The resemblance in intensity and fast hands is uncanny, and sure to continue to be a template for his assault on the world titles.
Since Saturday, Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) has been confirmed as mandatory contender to fellow Englishman Fabio Wardley’s WBO title. He’s also in pole-position for the other titles held by modern great Olexander Usyk.
The future is bright and nature of his victory means that Itauma’s promoter Queensberry will find it extra difficult to find meaningful matches before he inevitably challenges for a version of the heavyweight championship of the world.
Itauma is ranked #7 by the prestigious Ring magazine. It could be said his victory on Saturday is a coming of age, but recent evidence has shown we’re way beyond that stage. He’s definitely here to stay and make a major impact on the world title scene.
Franklin’s record drops to 24-3 (15 KOs). He will come again.
In the chief-support world ranked light-heavyweight Willy Hutchinson (20-2, 14 KOs) gained an impressive points victory over fellow-Brit Ezra Taylor, to increase the Scot’s world ranking, currently #9 by The Ring.
The night though belonged to Moses Itauma.
The Undisputed 