Moses Itauma can rule the WORLD, writes JEFF POWELL as British sensation, 21, does what AJ and Dillian Whyte failed to do with thunderous knockout of Jermaine Franklin
Moses brought down not only the hands of stone but also the lightning power. World heavyweight boxing may indeed be Itauma’s to command sooner rather than later.
This was not just a statement victory but an execution.
Jermaine Franklin came to Manchester hoping to stamp American authority on the pinnacle of prizefighting.
He had never been knocked down before, let alone KOd. He was on his third visit to these shores. Twice as a meaty unit who had taken Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte the distance, but here he was stopped for the first time in his life.
After his victory, Itauma said: ‘I’ve had a lovely time. This is where I won my first national title. We come here seven years later, and I’m picking up a win over Franklin.
‘I tried to knock him out in the first or second round, but maybe not today. So I went back to the basics, and the knockout just came. I’m just a young boy chasing a dream.’
Itauma, by his standards, took his time with this one. He had said he wanted more rounds and he got them. But only by two or three more in his unbeaten rampage towards the summit of boxing.
Moses Itauma moved one step closer to a world title fight with a devastating victory over Jermaine Franklin
The 21-year-old from Kent did what Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte failed to do in stopping the American heavyweight
That much was given him by Franklin’s phenomenal capacity for soaking up punishment.
The Co-Op Live arena bore witness to confirmation that a shining star has been born and lives in Chatham.
Promoter Frank Warren knows potential greatness when he sees it and promised his latest discovery a world title fight soon.
Perhaps the winner of the upcoming slugfest for the WBO belt back in this arena between Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois.
Even Oleksandr Usyk, the maestro of undisputed championships, will be aware of the threat from south-east England.
This was just one-way traffic as Itauma unfurled the full repertoire of his huge punching power. The man from America must have felt like he was being run over by a big old truck convoy throughout his four rounds, one minute and 33 seconds of hell.
It is not only the thunder of Itauma’s which hallmark him as special. It is the precision which reached a zenith as Franklin finished face-down on the canvas.
In the shadow of City’s Etihad cathedral, the Co-Op Live arena sheltered from the gale-force winds which were blowing at the start of a new heavyweight boxing season.
Manchester is not readily giving up its status as the northern powerhouse of English sport. With United’s grandiose successor to Old Trafford on the horizon, the big events will keep rolling into town.
City v Arsenal for the Premier League title is in the offing and boxing is whipping up a storm.
Itauma with all his potential to become the future of the marquee division and Franklin bidding to present himself as the new face of American prize-fighting were first into the newest temple of elite endeavour.
London will get a taste of the big punching action next month when Deontay Wilder and Derek Chisora stage their battle for the aged at the O2, followed by Tyson Fury coming out of retirement — yes, again — against Russian menace Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There will be huge clamour for a world title fight and JEFF POWELL believes he can reach the top
Big-city bragging rights as well as a possible summer tilt at Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown are up for grabs in these few short weeks.
Moses and Jermaine came out to stake their claims. Neither is among the taller heavyweights but Franklin is about a stone heavier — the biggest he has ever been — and Itauma is growing into the division.
Who landed the first blow? Itauma sent the American stumbling into the ropes in the first. Then shook him up some more.
Franklin’s bulk acted as a shock absorber when he took Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte the distance. He shipped more punishment in the second but rode it out.
In the third it was more pain for Franklin as he went down from a wicked Moses right. In the next, Itauma mixed in some combination boxing with the heavy blows. Franklin finally landed a couple of shots but it was still a beating.
Then in the fifth, it was over. A left uppercut pitchforked Franklin towards the canvas and Itauma made sure he stayed there with a cruel straight right.
Former light-middleweight world champion Liam Smith said on X: ‘He’s some fighter this kid. I’m putting it out there, I think he beats Usyk.’
