Moses Itauma proves he’s the future of heavyweight boxing with dominant win over Jermaine Franklin

Moses Itauma showed why he is the future of heavyweight boxing, defeating veteran Jermaine Franklin in Manchester.

Moses Itauma shocked the world on 28 March with a definitive victory against Jermaine Franklin at the AO Arena, proving his young age of 21 did not hold him back from beating seasoned boxers in the ring.

The fight started with both boxers sizing each other up in the first round. This quickly changed as Moses landed multiple shots on Jermaine Franklin early on, having him on the ropes by the end of round one.

In an interview with Seconds Out, Moses said, “I don’t think it could’ve gone any better,” which foreshadowed the later rounds. In the third, Moses displayed his well-timed shot selection; with just 29 seconds left, he hit Jermaine with an overhand right, dropping the American.

Jermaine landed a stiff jab in the fourth, which was met with a smile from Moses. In the fifth round, both warriors came for blood, with Jermaine pressing Moses, but the 21-year-old was not intimidated and quickly turned the tables, following Jermaine around the ring and ending the fight during the clinch with an uppercut that visibly dazed the fighter and rendered him unconscious in round five.

Moses Itauma, although only 21 years old, has made waves in the boxing world with his bouts. His speed for a heavyweight is extraordinary, and when combined with his shot selection and composure in the ring for such a young athlete, he has impressed many people in the sport. Anthony Yarde, a British light heavyweight, has followed Moses’ journey and said on talkSPORT, “Moses is it.”

Moving from Bratislava, Slovakia, due to his mother wanting him and his brothers to have a better life, Moses didn’t waste the opportunity. “I knew I was going to be successful,” he said in an interview with Jamie Laing, a British TV personality.

With an amateur record of 24 wins and 1 loss, and turning pro at just 18 years old, with a current record of 14 wins and 0 losses, his natural talent was evident. Lawrence Okolie, a heavyweight boxer, said about Moses after sparring him, “If he’s that good at 15 years old, what’s he going to be like at 24?”

Jermaine said he did not stick to his coach's game plan and stated he would be “back to the drawing board” in an interview with The Stomping Ground.

With Moses being the number one prospect in the sport, many pundits said he is the future, while others felt the hype around the young man was not warranted without an experienced opponent to test him. However, after his victory against Jermaine, many critics were silenced.

Ben Davison, Moses’ trainer, said, “He’s not ready for elite level yet,” and although his performance against Franklin was outstanding, there were some moments where the young fighter rushed in.

True Geordie, a combat sports YouTuber, has praised Itauma, saying, “He will dominate boxing for the next decade,” while others believe there are still areas of his game that need refining before stepping up to elite level. So it’s clear that Moses is going to the top of the sport, but many know there are areas that still need fine tuning.

“I’m just a young boy chasing a dream,” Itauma said to Ade Oladipo after his fight, and as he climbs up the ranks in the heavyweight division, Moses can be sure his goals in the sport will materialise if he continues to keep the division interesting with the superb knockouts he has produced.

As of right now, Moses is yet to win a title from any notable boxing organisation, but at the speed of his development, especially with his statement win against Dillian Whyte, an opponent he beat in the first round, a fighter who went head to head with Anthony Joshua, it is safe to say it will not be long until Itauma gets his moment with a title shot.

No confirmed fights have been set for Moses Itauma, but he said a fight with Croatian athlete Filip Hrgović is next on his list as he continues to aim for a title.

With Moses making multiple statements this year so far, it is very exciting to see what is next for him in the division. Fabio Wardley, the current WBA heavyweight champion, has been mentioned as a good next opponent for Itauma, but Wardley responded to this by saying to Boxing News, “Right now, we’re in different places… there is a gap of separation.”

Whoever is next for Moses, it will be a fight worth watching as this young athlete continues to make his mark on the sport.
Photo Credit: Queensberry