Moses Itauma delivered a strong message to the heavyweight division by outclassing Jermaine Franklin in a dominant performance.
Itauma, with an impressive record of stopping 12 out of 14 opponents, achieved what fighters like Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte couldn’t by halting Franklin before the fifth round. Itauma admitted pushing for an early knockout but adjusted his strategy, focusing on body shots which eventually led to the decisive finish.
From the opening bell, Itauma controlled the fight, landing precise combinations and showcasing superior speed. Franklin struggled to counter Itauma’s relentless attacks, eventually getting dropped in the third round by a powerful right hook. Itauma’s calculated mix of body shots and head blows kept Franklin on the defensive throughout the match.
Despite taking Franklin into the fifth round for the first time in his career, Itauma remained composed and sealed the victory with a devastating left uppercut followed by a right hand that sent Franklin crashing to the canvas.
In other fights on the card, Willy Hutchinson secured a victory over Ezra Taylor, Nathan Heaney suffered a defeat against Gerome Warburton, and Brad Pauls pulled off a remarkable upset by stopping the previously unbeaten Shakiel Thompson in the ninth round.