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Moses Itauma's sensational rise continues with Jermaine Franklin KO
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MANCHESTER, England — The rise of Moses Itauma continued on Saturday with another sensational knockout, this time in Round Five over American Jermaine Franklin Jr. in Manchester.
Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) started fast and let his hands go, as he so often does, from the get-go, proving far too quick for Franklin who was boxed in the corner for much of the opening three minutes.
But, the American was tough, taking his fair share of shots but staying on his feet in the opening two rounds and even fired back at Itauma, clipping him a couple of times.
Moses Itauma inflicts first knockout defeat on Jermaine Franklin
Moses Itauma made another emphatic statement as the British heavyweight prospect became the first fighter to stop Jermaine Franklin.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte were both taken the distance in points wins in Franklin’s two previous visits to the UK but the durable American was brutally taken out midway through the fifth round by Itauma in Manchester.
Having knocked his opponent down in the third, Itauma closed the show in spectacular fashion a couple of rounds later, following up a punishing left uppercut with a right hand that sent Franklin crashing to the canvas face first.
The referee, Steve Gray, immediately waved off the contest as Itauma bowed to the sold-out Co-op Live Arena crowd after moving to 14-0, which will only amplify calls for the 21-year-old to fight for a world title next.
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Who next for Moses Itauma?
That an article is being published detailing which opponent might follow for Moses Itauma, mere hours before he fights Jermaine Franklin, exhibits the weight of expectation on the young heavyweight's shoulders.
Everyone, and we mean everyone, in the sport of boxing expects 21-year-old Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs), to get past Franklin and then go on to conquer the division.
However, though a showdown with world champion Oleksandr Usyk is beyond interesting, it would also represent a leap in class of gargantuan proportions. Even a shot at WBO beltholder, Fabio Wardley, should be considered wildly risky at this stage of Itauma's development.
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