Frank Warren provides insight into the calibre of Itauma’s next in-ring challenge.
When there is a prospect in boxing with a lot of apparent potential, the fans will start to take notice and will quickly get behind the fighter to support who they believe will achieve big things in the sport.
When that fighter is a heavyweight prospect, that support is increased tenfold.
The excitement around British heavyweight hope Moses Itauma has been palpable for a while now, but last Saturday, it reached a fever pitch.
That’s because the 21-year-old from Chatham faced Jermaine Franklin in what was meant to be a step-up fight, and he had no trouble whatsoever.
Franklin first came to attention at the end of 2022 when he faced former top contender Dillian Whyte, going the distance in a contest that was officially won by Whyte, but many thought Franklin won.
Under five months later, Franklin faced Anthony Joshua, going the distance once again in a clearer loss. But in both fights, Franklin displayed a very sturdy chin. In fact, he never did seem in much danger of hitting the canvas.
The thought process going in was that the never-before-dropped-or-stopped Franklin would take Itauma further than two rounds for the first time since July of 2023.
And to Franklin’s credit, he did, but that would ultimately amount to little more than a consolation prize. The American was visibly hurt at the end of the first round, dropped in the third, and viciously taken out in the fifth.
The left uppercut that rendered Franklin facedown on the canvas is one of the best you will ever see, and with this performance, many have been wondering what is next for Itauma.
In the post-fight interview, Itauma mentioned Filip Hrgovic as the man he would have liked to fight afterwards. However, given the Croatian is fighting Dave Allen in May, it looks like this probably won’t be the Briton’s next opponent.
Promoter Frank Warren, though, did say that his charge will be back out in July, and he has now told BoxingScene that Itauma will be returning against a foe in the top ten.
“Itauma will be back out in July, and he’s got to fight a top-10-ranked fighter. That’s the risk”, said Warren.
“The governing bodies might order a fight, I don’t know. He’s number one in the WBO and the WBA, so we’ll see what happens there. There are many, many connotations for him. For me, he’s the most exciting fighter in the world at the moment.”
Whoever that top-ten opponent will be, all eyes are now on Moses Itauma.
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