Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin | DAZN - 28 March 2026

[joshj909]

So they can say he did what AJ and Whyte couldn't

That's the exact reason, however, it's a good learning fight for his progression and experience. The type of fight he should be taking instead of people saying he's going to beat Usyk in his next fight.

Franklin should be able to last longer than others since the two journeymen lasted six rounds. Franklin is coming off a career best win over Dychko, which I understand was a disputed win, but a decent win on paper. Franklin is a tough veteran and should be able to last or spoil himself into at least the 3rd or 4th but a decision loss wouldn't even be a huge surprise.

[JC]

Good opponent. Should give him rounds.

Don't know whether he'll test Itauma's chin or not, we'll have to see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Moses Itauma-Jermaine Franklin tops Warren's Magnificent 7 bill in Manchester

International Boxing Hall of Fame promoter allegedly opens his account in his 45th year as a licensed British boxing promoter with a Magnificent 7 card in January, headlined by heavyweights Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin.

Warren has promoted the likes of Frank Bruno, Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn, Amir Khan, Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe, and Itauma is being tipped by many as Britian’s next big star.

The Queensberry Promotions show will take place at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday, January 24.

Itauma, described in the publicity material for the event as “world champion-in-waiting,” breezed through Mike Balogun and Dillian Whyte in his two bouts in 2025.

The 20-year-old is 13-0 (11 KOs) and Franklin, no stranger to English shores where the 24-2 (15 KOs) contender from Saginaw, Michigan, has lost decisions to Whyte and Anthony Joshua.

He’s won three consecutive bouts since those defeats.

The chief-support sees two of Warren’s significant crop of light-heavyweights line up against one another, with talented 19-2 (14 KOs) Scot Willy Hutchinson facing off against unbeaten Ezra Taylor, 13-0 (9 KOS), with both coming in off fine wins against Mark Jeffers and Steed Woodall respectively.

At junior lightweight, Commonwealth champion Zak Miller, 17-1 (3 KOs) clashes with 17-1 (8 KOs) Liam Davies, and at middleweight Shakiel Thompson, 15-0 (11 KOs) will face former British champion Brad Pauls, 20-2-1 (11 KOs).

Popular Stoke star Nathan Heaney, who is 19-1-1 (6 KOs), returns against Welsh left-hander Gerome Warburton, who is 16-2-2 (2 KOs) while lightweight Alex Murphy, 14-2, meets English champion Josh Holmes, who is 17-0 (6 KOs) and also at lightweight, 14-1 (2 KOs) Aqib Fiaz takes on 12-1-1 (2 KOs).

“We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 bounty for the fans in our first UK show of 2026,” said Warren. “It is a statement of intent for the New Year and a sign of things to come. We are delighted with what we have put together across 2025 in tandem with our new broadcast partner DAZN, but we have the scope to go bigger and further in 2026, which we will do and make it a landmark year for the sport.

“This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion and I am very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermaine Franklin."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Moses Itauma to fight rival who took Anthony Joshua 12 rounds

Moses Itauma will return to the ring on Jan. 24 in Manchester, England, taking on American Jermaine Franklin at the Co-Op Live arena.

Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) is one of the most exciting young fighters on the planet but has struggled to find opponents willing to go up against his devastating power this year. He has boxed just three rounds in 2025.

The 20-year-old's last win came in August against former word title contender Dillian Whyte, when Itauma delivered another sensational Round 1 knockout.

Itauma will kick off the new year against Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs), whose only two defeats have come against Whyte and Anthony Joshua, both on points. Another stoppage win for Itauma would notably improve upon Whyte and Joshua's wins against Franklin.

"We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 [card] for the fans in our first UK show of 2026," promoter allegedly said.

"It is a statement of intent for the New Year and a sign of things to come.

"This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion and I am very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermaine Franklin."

Training under Ben Davison, Itauma has positioned himself as the next face of the heavyweight division and should be in contention to fight for a world title in 2026.

The WBA had ordered its regular title holder Kubrat Pulev to fight Itauma, however it has since been announced that Pulev will fight Murat Gassiev on Dec. 12 in Dubai.

The move was a blow for Itauma, who has limited time in the ring as a professional owing to his impressive knockout rate.

The Slovakian-born Brit has not had to go past Round 2 in his last nine fights.

The heavyweight clash will headline Queensberry's latest "Magnificent 7" card, which will feature a domestic light heavyweight fight between British prospects Willy Hutchinson (19-2, 14 KOs) and Ezra Taylor (13-0, 9 KOs).

[Ruthless-RKO]

Supporting the Show: Domestic Talent in Action

The card’s undercard is stacked with notable domestic matchups to make up the ‘Magnificent Seven’ tagline. All bouts have something different to offer fans who make the journey to Manchester.

Light Heavyweight Clash: Willy Hutchinson (19-2, 14 KOs) vs. Ezra Taylor (13-0, 9 KOs). Hutchinson comes off a dominant win over Mark Jeffers, while Taylor recently stopped Steed Woodall.

Featherweight Showdown: British and Commonwealth champion Zak Miller (17-1, 3 KOs) faces Liam Davies (17-1, 8 KOs), a former IBO world, British, and European champion at super bantamweight.

Middleweight Spotlight: WBO Global champion Shakiel Thompson (15-0, 11 KOs) meets former British champion Brad Pauls (20-2-1, 11 KOs).

160lb Bout: Local favourite Nathan Heaney (19-1-1, 6 KOs) returns to the ring against Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton (16-2-2, 2 KOs).

Lightweight Contests: Alex Murphy (14-2) vs. English champion Josh Holmes (17-0, 6 KOs), and Aqib Fiaz (14-1, 2 KOs) vs. Jordan Flynn (12-1-1, 2 KOs).

[tony1234]

Is this one of the new PPV's ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is this one of the new PPV's ?

probably will be.

Are the old plans still even available? or is everyone just gonna jump on the ultimate sub?

[joshj909]

Is this one of the new PPV's ?

Neither Joshua or Whyte vs Franklin was PPV. Itauma is still a nobody compared to them. If this is PPV then DAZN are just inviting people to illegally stream their events rather than pay for subscriptions plus PPVs

[MPW]

At least Itauma's fight will be early in 2026 and not April or May. The best thing for him would be six-plus hard rounds against Franklin. An early KO - first or second round - doesn't truly benefit Itauma beyond bragging rights for stopping the guy who went the distance with AJ, but he would still have that claim with a late-round stoppage, plus the benefit of those rounds.

Have to admit I am also interested in the Thompson-Pauls fight at MW. It should be a test for Thompson against a good fighter and a chance for Pauls to beat a quality opponent.

[londonwar]

durable chin but not much else.

makes sense not to put itauma out in december. we couldnt have him fighting 3 times in one year, that would be madness

[Ruthless-RKO]

Is this one of the new PPV's ?

Neither Joshua or Whyte vs Franklin was PPV. Itauma is still a nobody compared to them. If this is PPV then DAZN are just inviting people to illegally stream their events rather than pay for subscriptions plus PPVs

That is true yes Franklin is probably thinking why he is not PPV worthy.

[Ruthless-RKO]

So this is going to be a magnificent seven card and as history usually tells us it will no doubt change to a super six card as one of the fights may be called off it usually is the case

[KiwiRider]

So this is going to be a magnificent seven card and as history usually tells us it will no doubt change to a super six card as one of the fights may be called off it usually is the case

Chin up Ruthie, it's a good card so far.

[Cyclops]

I get why this is good for Moses' learning but I'm not really interested in this. Franklin didn't look like he wanted to be there against Dychko and I don't see him suddenly re-discovering his ambition for this one. He's durable but he was career best shape against Joshua and was soundly beaten. I don't think he'll get himself into that kind of shape again.

Still, he is the perfect opponent for Itauma's development and that's why he got the decision in his last fight, where arguably neither bloke deserved to win.

[joshj909]

I get why this is good for Moses' learning but I'm not really interested in this. Franklin didn't look like he wanted to be there against Dychko and I don't see him suddenly re-discovering his ambition for this one. He's durable but he was career best shape against Joshua and was soundly beaten. I don't think he'll get himself into that kind of shape again.

Still, he is the perfect opponent for Itauma's development and that's why he got the decision in his last fight, where arguably neither bloke deserved to win.

The best the fans can hope for in terms of excitement is that Itauma's cardio sucks and the second half of the fight could be an interesting, yet sloppy, fight

[SteveO]

Maybe the idea is to (hopefully) give Moses some rounds.

[gilgamesh]

Franklin probably will be a little more durable than his recent opponents, but that's about it. I expect one of them fights where all of the offense is coming from one direction while Franklin spends most of the bout in survival mode.

[gregregegg]

Perfect opponent, ifff, big if, the ref dosent just brittish stoppage it.

If Moses can legit get Franklin out of there early it’s very impressive, if he just swarms him and franklins fine and the ref jumps in it’s not so great.

This is who Moses needed 3 fights ago, but they tried to go flashy with Whyte but ultimently have had to backtrack (seemingly)

I am surprised they have this listed as a 12 rounder… must be some version of some belt on the line… cause if (huge if) Moses can’t get him out of there, going 10 is a big enough step up in rounds, those extra 2 seem unessasaryly deep waters if it were to get there…

[JamesPhilips]

Franklin probably will be a little more durable than his recent opponents, but that's about it. I expect one of them fights where all of the offense is coming from one direction while Franklin spends most of the bout in survival mode.

And finishes in a British stoppage?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Franklin probably will be a little more durable than his recent opponents, but that's about it. I expect one of them fights where all of the offense is coming from one direction while Franklin spends most of the bout in survival mode.

He’ll come Kevin Johnson in that ring.

[Cyclops]

Franklin probably will be a little more durable than his recent opponents, but that's about it. I expect one of them fights where all of the offense is coming from one direction while Franklin spends most of the bout in survival mode.

He’ll come Kevin Johnson in that ring.

Nah. Joshua punches seriously hard and Franklin ate them and still hit him back, didn't he? I think Franklin won the lottery being so competitive against Dillian Whyte and bagging the AJ fight. He trained hard for that and had enthusiasm, something he doesn't seem to have much of anymore.

I think he quits on his stool, late rounds, while thinking about still having the braincells to enjoy the paycheque.

[gilgamesh]

Franklin probably will be a little more durable than his recent opponents, but that's about it. I expect one of them fights where all of the offense is coming from one direction while Franklin spends most of the bout in survival mode.

And finishes in a British stoppage?

Possibly. I could see Franklin languishing on the ropes and causing it.

[KiwiRider]

Franklin probably will be a little more durable than his recent opponents, but that's about it. I expect one of them fights where all of the offense is coming from one direction while Franklin spends most of the bout in survival mode.

If he's motivated Gil.
As others have mentioned, he seems to have lost form. He was 234 against Joshua and each fight since has got fatter and fatter. I could be wrong, and he comes in fighting fit, but I suspect he will lay down and take his cheque.

[Taansend]

I know he's an 'ard bastard but Jermaine Franklins face just reminds me of a deep tissue masseuse you'd come across in a holistic wellness retreat in Costa Rica.

[forcefraser]

Decent card so far