Moses Itauma made a significant statement in the heavyweight division by defeating Jermaine Franklin decisively. Itauma, with an impressive record of stopping 12 out of 14 opponents, achieved what renowned British heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte could not, by securing a stoppage victory over Franklin, who managed to last until the fifth round—further into the fight than Itauma had experienced previously in his professional career.
The 21-year-old British boxer showcased his dominance by dropping Franklin in the third round and expressed his satisfaction by saying, “I’ve accomplished something that even other successful British heavyweights failed to do. While I initially aimed for a quick knockout in the early rounds, I adjusted my strategy and focused on body shots, eventually leading to the knockout.”
Itauma exhibited control from the onset of the bout, methodically pursuing Franklin around the ring. His speed and precision punches posed challenges for Franklin, who struggled to counter effectively. Itauma’s well-placed combinations, particularly targeting the body and temple of Franklin, proved to be effective as he maintained the upper hand throughout the fight. Franklin was knocked down in the third round, and despite surviving subsequent rounds, he succumbed to a powerful combination in the fifth round, leading to a convincing victory for Itauma.
In other matches on the undercard, Willy Hutchinson emerged victorious against Ezra Taylor, earning his opponent’s first defeat. Nathan Heaney, despite strong support from his fans, suffered a defeat against Gerome Warburton. Brad Pauls caused a major upset by stopping the previously unbeaten Shakiel Thompson in the ninth round, showcasing a remarkable comeback after a previous defeat.
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