Itauma vs Franklin LIVE!
Moses Itauma made another emphatic statement as the British heavyweight prospect became the first fighter to stop Jermaine Franklin in Manchester.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte were both taken the distance in points wins in Franklin's two previous visits to the UK but the durable American was brutally taken out midway through the fifth round by Itauma.
Having knocked his opponent down in the third, Itauma closed the show in spectacular fashion a couple of rounds later, following up a punishing left uppercut with a right hand that saw Franklin crash to the canvas face first. Referee Steve Gray immediately waved off the contest as Itauma bowed to the sold-out Co-op Live Arena crowd after moving to 14-0, which will only amplify calls for the 21-year-old to fight for a world title next.
Live updates
Brit looking good
On now
Liam Davies takes on Francesco Grandelli in a 12-rounder as the undercard continues.
Main card results so far`
Michael Gomez Jr. def. Jordan Flynn by TKO
Josh Holmes def. Alex Murphy by TKO
Itauma vs Franklin latest odds
Itauma to win: 1/25
Franklin to win: 11/1
Draw: 40/1
Itauma to win on points or by decision: 7/2
Itauma to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 1/4
Franklin to win on points or by decision: 25/1
Franklin to win by knockout, technical knockout or disqualification: 16/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
How did they weigh in?
Itauma hit the scales on Friday at 242.1 pounds, with Franklin weighing in at 258.4 pounds.
Standard Sport prediction
On paper at least, this should be the most difficult night of Itauma’s explosive career so far.
However, that is certainly not saying much. Aside from early dominant six-round points wins over Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko and Kevin Nicolas Espindola, he has delivered devastatingly swift knockouts of every opponent he has faced to date.
There is a reason why the likes of the returning Fury want nothing whatsoever to do with fighting Itauma, who has racked up only 26 rounds in 13 pro bouts.
He has only gone past the second round twice, the last of those was nine fights ago in 2023.
Franklin is a tough and durable customer who has never been stopped and acquitted himself well against both Whyte and Joshua, but is about to face a very different prospect altogether.
He might be make to work slightly harder for it, but we’re still anticipating another formidable stoppage from Itauma comfortably in the first half of the fight.
Having said that, some crucial rounds under the belt would be no bad thing if it was to go on longer.
Itauma to win by knockout.
Card in full
Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin
Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton
Ezra Taylor vs Willy Hutchinson
Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls
Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli
Alex Murphy vs Josh Holmes
Michael Gomez Jr vs Jordan Flynn
Nelson Birchall vs Ryan Griffiths
John Joe Carrigan vs Danny Costello
Billy Deniz vs Grant Dennis
Aadam Hamed vs Michael Mooney
How to watch
TV channel and live stream: The Magnificent 7 show is being broadcast live and exclusive in the UK via DAZN.
It is part of the regular DAZN subscription and not through their pay-per-view service.
Hello and welcome!
... to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Moses Itauma’s heavyweight clash against Jermaine Franklin from the Co-Op Live in Manchester.
Stay tuned for all the updates, with the undercard already underway and the main event slated for around 11pm GMT.
