In a bold statement that has sent ripples through the heavyweight division, Jermaine Franklin has issued a stark warning to the rising star Moses Itauma ahead of their highly-anticipated bout this Saturday. The experienced American fighter has promised to take the young British sensation into uncharted territories when they meet in the ring at the Co-op Live in Manchester.
Itauma, who has been making waves in the professional boxing scene, has so far enjoyed a meteoric rise. His impressive record includes a stunning first-round knockout of former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in August, bringing his unbeaten streak to 13-0. However, Franklin, with a professional record of 26 fights without a single stoppage, is determined to change that.
Franklin, known as the ‘989 Assassin,’ has vowed to push Itauma into ‘deep waters’ during their 10-round heavyweight showdown. The 32-year-old American, who has faced and taken the distance with both Whyte and Anthony Joshua, believes his experience will be the key factor in this fight.
‘He’s never been in deep waters,’ Franklin stated confidently. ‘It’ll be a different territory for him. I’ve been in deep waters a couple of times, so I know how it is, how it feels. I think going into deep waters benefits me more.’
Franklin’s recent form has been impressive, with three consecutive wins since his defeat to Joshua in 2023. His most recent victory came against Ivan Dychko in September, a unanimous decision that showcased his resilience and skill.
Itauma, on the other hand, is currently the number one contender for both Fabio Wardley’s WBO heavyweight title and Oleksandr Usyk’s WBA crown. However, a potential clash with Wardley seems unlikely, as both fighters are trained by Ben Davison. Usyk, who is set to defend his WBC crown against former kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven on May 23 in Egypt, has also dismissed the idea of facing Itauma.
‘I don’t want to fight with Itauma because he’s a young guy,’ Usyk stated. ‘I don’t want to break this guy. He’s a guy like me. Rico is first. Second is who wins between Wardley-Dubois, and the third fight is my friend, Tyson Fury.’
As the boxing world eagerly awaits the Franklin vs. Itauma clash, one thing is certain: this fight will be a true test of Itauma’s mettle and a chance for Franklin to prove that experience and resilience can triumph over youth and raw talent.
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