Moses Itauma was on track for what should have been an important test against Jermaine Franklin on January 24. But now, the young prospect will have to wait a little longer after picking up an injury in training. The bout has been rescheduled for March 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, the same venue.
Itauma, who’s been unbeaten in 13 fights with 11 knockouts, has shown brutal power in the ring, most notably with his first-round destruction of Dillian Whyte back in August. This kid’s power is unquestionable. But there’s a difference between knocking out guys who can’t handle that kind of firepower and dealing with a tough, battle-tested fighter like Franklin.
Is Moses Itauma Ready for Jermaine Franklin’s Durability?
At 24-2, Franklin’s already seen the rough side of the sport. He’s faced tough competition, including Anthony Joshua and Whyte, and has never been stopped. That’s a significant difference when you consider Itauma, who’s barely seen the later rounds in his pro career. It’s easy to look great against opponents who are on the back foot or outgunned, but Franklin isn’t going to crumble. He’ll take Itauma’s best shots, and he’ll keep coming forward.
This is about how Itauma handles the grind. Franklin’s style is about taking punches and dishing them right back. Itauma’s never had to deal with a guy who can stay in his face and push through the tough spots.
Does the Delay Affect Itauma’s Progress?
The injury and subsequent delay don’t derail Itauma’s potential, but they do add some uncertainty. A few months off could mean losing some of the rhythm he’d been building up. This isn’t a game where you can afford to lose momentum. In the heavyweight division, the competition gets steeper with every fight, and timing is everything. It’s easy to question whether a young fighter like Itauma, who’s still learning how to pace himself, will keep his focus after the break.
Franklin’s already proven he can handle tough fights. The question is whether Itauma can prove he’s ready to take that next step, even with the disruption in his camp. He’s got the skills, but he needs to show he can adapt in a real test. Franklin will be the one testing whether Itauma’s tools are good enough at this level.
“Honestly the injury might mess up Itauma’s training real bad. You can’t fight a guy like Franklin unless you sharp and ready every second in that ring.”
“Itauma is hyped too much just because he knocks people out fast. But them guys ain’t at the level of Franklin. When someone stand up to him, we’ll see what he really got.”
Moses is young and strong but I don’t think he’s ready for Franklin yet. Franklin got more experience and won’t just fall over from one punch like them other guys.
Exactly bro, Franklin been in there with Joshua and didn’t even get dropped. Moses needs more time before taking on a guy like that.
Ya’ll acting like Moses can’t punch hard enough. One clean hit and Franklin gonna be sleep 😴