Moses Itauma has looked imperious in the ring across his first 13 fights.
The 20-year-old is one of the most promising talents in world boxing, and many see him as a future world champion, including past and current belt holders Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk,
He has stopped 11 of his opponents so far, nine of them inside the first two rounds, including the teak-tough former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in the opening round last time out in August.
Though he said in the ring afterwards he was ready for Usyk, and had been linked with a fight with Kubrat Pulev, Itauma does now have an opponent locked in as he prepares to face Jermaine Franklin at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester on 24 January.
Franklin has twice fought in the UK and put in solid showings against Anthony Joshua and Whyte, both of whom he took the full 12 rounds, with many thinking he could do the same to Itauma and be the first man to take him the distance.
Speaking to Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, Franklin was asked why he thinks he has enough to get the win.
“I think I got more experience, I think I got more ring generalship, I think I can do more than they expect I can do.
“They’ve not really seen me in the shape I’m going to be in so I think they’re basing their opinions off things they’ve seen in the past which won’t really matter in the future.
“I think I’ll be able to capitalise off that. I think my jab, I’m a firm believer in this, I think my jab can get the job done.”
A win for Itauma against such a solid and well-ranked opponent would put him one step closer to a world title in 2026.
