Fabio Wardley Shares Insights from Sparring with Jermaine Franklin Ahead of Manchester Heavyweight Clash

As the anticipation builds for the upcoming heavyweight bout between Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin, scheduled for March 28 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley has shared his experiences and predictions based on his sparring sessions with Franklin.

The Queensberry Promotions’ Magnificent 7 fight card promises to be a thrilling event, with Itauma and Franklin headlining the evening. Itauma, weighing in at 242.1 lbs, has an impressive record of 13-0 with 11 KOs, including a recent first-round knockout of Dillian Whyte. Franklin, on the other hand, tips the scales at 258 lbs and boasts a record of 24-2 with 15 KOs. Known for his resilience, Franklin has gone the distance with notable fighters like Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, and secured a unanimous decision victory against Ivan Dychko in his last outing.

Wardley, who has shared the ring with Franklin during sparring sessions, offered a unique perspective on Franklin’s abilities. “I’ve spent considerable time sparring with Jermaine Franklin,” Wardley revealed. “There were times when I landed the cleanest shots on him, and he would simply nod, acknowledging the hit, and say ‘good shot.’ His ability to absorb punches is remarkable.”

Wardley predicts that the upcoming fight will be a test of endurance, with a barrage of punches likely to decide the outcome in the latter half of the bout. “Franklin’s durability is unquestionable,” Wardley added. “I expect a tough fight that will intensify as the rounds progress.”

The fight card also features several other exciting matchups, including:

• Willy Hutchinson vs Ezra Taylor, 10 rounds, light heavyweights
• Zak Miller vs Liam Davies, 10 rounds, featherweights
• Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls, 10 rounds, middleweights
• Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton, 10 rounds, middleweights
• Aqib Fiaz vs Jordan Flynn, 10 rounds, lightweights
• Alex Murphy vs Josh Holmes, 10 rounds, lightweights
• Nelson Birchall vs Ryan Griffiths, 8 rounds, super featherweights
• Aadam Hamed vs Kasey Bradnum, 4 rounds, super lightweights
• John Joe Carrigan vs Danny Costello, 4 rounds, super welterweights
• Billy Deniz vs Grant Dennis, 6 rounds, super middleweights

Fans can look forward to comprehensive coverage of the event, including live updates, results, video highlights, and post-fight analysis. The heavyweight showdown between Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin is set to be a memorable night of boxing, with insights from Wardley adding an extra layer of intrigue.