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

[Old bones Ian]

Only flaw for me is his low right hand all the time , he was very good last night other than that

[Cyclops]

He’s very difficult to match.

And those who will take the fight will want compensation.

Hughie Fury is a good match - easy sell, Fury has a good chin. It would still be another ‘can Itauma stop him' type fights like Franklin.

Guido Vianello - decent, good chin. Beatable. Prob be expensive to get him over though.

Kevin Lerena - a sort of name. Some ability. Would get blasted out in a few rounds probably.

Otto Wallin - not been stopped. Ok boxer. No fire power. Would get stopped brutally….

David Adeleye - can punch at least

TBF it’s a tough task. Heavyweight is always short on depth and Itauma is very hard to match. If you’re a sadist you might call for Joe Joyce or Derek Chisora

Wallin has been stopped. AJ took him out.

What about Murat Gassiev?

[Grilling Machine]

I was just hoping to see Franklin last past the over/under. Alas, he did not. Bad day for me with the wagers. Good day of fights though so I take the day as a win overall. I'm a glass half full kinda guy,

My main danger now is that Fury pulls out, and if he does I'll limit myself to accas on the same card in future. I didn't plan on betting much until I saw Franklin's gut at the weigh-in!

Cos apart from Usyk or Fury I can't see Itauma going the distance with anyone - I think he'll either stop them or gas and get stopped. So for now I think there's potential value in doubling him by stoppage with any other strong favourite. This time I doubled him with Fury to win, and then put singles on Franklin and Mak by stoppage.

Value on Mak by points is crap! Should be 200/1! Not impossible on our cards, but I can't see him getting the nod with AJ-Fury on the horizon in a month of Sundays. So long as it happens and Fury doesn't have to fight injured like Haye against Bellew...

Itauma by stoppage and Fury by any method: 12% profit
Franklin by stoppage: 61.5
Mak by stoppage: 15.4

[TheLeprechaun]

I didn't see Bakole being mentioned. He's probably lost his hunger after making some paydays and living well in the Congo

[gilgamesh]

I didn't see Bakole being mentioned. He's probably lost his hunger after making some paydays and living well in the Congo

I don't know if he's lost his hunger, but he's certainly lost his will to fight as much.

Couldn't resist the obvious fat joke there.

[KiwiRider]

There is no way Torrez’s management will agree to fight Itauma, esp now

I think they would take it. Torrez isn't earning very much and this would be a big exposure for him.
But I doubt we will be seeing Itauma fighting another guy on the way up just yet. Fwank will dangle the bait to the punters a while longer.
I'd just be happy to see Itauma fighting at least 4 times this year, start with that.

Can you really see them putting him in with Itauma for exposure though?

They turned down a a big money offer from the Saudis not long ago (maybe a year / 18 months) saying Torrez wasn’t ready yet.

He’s the only potentially marketable American HW right now (other than maybe Anderson if he turns it round), can’t see them risking that unless it’s for a title.

Yes your right. Like I said, I can't see him fighting another guy who is on the way up anyway.

[smiling assassin]

If Carlsberg done Itauma next 3 fights I’d like to see:
Torrez Jr
Efe ajagba
Kabayel

Outside of Usyk I think Kabayel is the toughest fight out there for Itauma currently and can’t see this fight taking place anytime soon. Both parties don’t need this fight but Itauma’s especially.

[TheLeprechaun]

Torrez Jr willl be a good fight, he will come to fight and bring some pressure. He is also a southpaw and has amateur pedigree. I am not sold on Itaumas defence as of yet. Offensively he is superb but that is not enough. He has the kind of style where you rarely see his chin get tested. I did see him taking a couple of shots in an earlier fight. He's using his reflexes for his defence. He's not fighting like a mover either, solid counter threat is a part of his defence. Someone like Torrez will take some chances and have a good. Ajagba appears to be too slow but it would be good to see how Itauma deals with a jab that is constantly coming at him. I imagine he would counter Ajagba for a KO. Kabayel is the guy who is the real dark horse of the division. Perhaps we are at a point where he is getting respect now and people genuinely see him as the potential number one in the division.

[tony1234]

wonder if Chisora wins on Saturday they go for that as a summer stadium PPV ? Would be an easy sell

[joshj909]

If Carlsberg done Itauma next 3 fights I’d like to see:
Torrez Jr
Efe ajagba
Kabayel

Outside of Usyk I think Kabayel is the toughest fight out there for Itauma currently and can’t see this fight taking place anytime soon. Both parties don’t need this fight but Itauma’s especially.

I think none are likely at all. Ajagba is tied to Zuffa who won't be easy to work with. Kabayel will sit and wait for Usyk. Torrez Will face an IBF final eliminator if he beats Sanchez whereas Itauma will likely go the WBA or WBO route. Gassiev, Pero, Hysa, Chisora, Hrgovic, Wardley, Dubois, Anderson, Dacres, Vykhryst and Riakporhe will likely be the options for his next bigger name fights if he doesn't pick journeymen.

[joshj909]

wonder if Chisora wins on Saturday they go for that as a summer stadium PPV ? Would be an easy sell

Sells well but it's high risk for Itauma. He obviously looks good but Chisora is a veteran with a decent chin. He can make it ugly in a way that Itauma might not know how to deal with, will Frank risk that?

[rhino222]

wonder if Chisora wins on Saturday they go for that as a summer stadium PPV ? Would be an easy sell

Sells well but it's high risk for Itauma. He obviously looks good but Chisora is a veteran with a decent chin. He can make it ugly in a way that Itauma might not know how to deal with, will Frank risk that?

I disagree, Chisora is basic jabs and hooks. Itauma lays him out within 4 rounds. I think Baby Miller is the fight for Itauma.

[jamesmcdonnell]

wonder if Chisora wins on Saturday they go for that as a summer stadium PPV ? Would be an easy sell

Sells well but it's high risk for Itauma. He obviously looks good but Chisora is a veteran with a decent chin. He can make it ugly in a way that Itauma might not know how to deal with, will Frank risk that?

Chisoria is too face first, he would get flattened.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Richard Torrez Jr Calls Out Moses Itauma

American heavyweight Richard Torrez Jr has stated, not for the first time, that he wants to challenge the fast rising Moses Itauma.

“If you can hear me,” Torrez Jr said to Itauma in an interview for FightHub. “I know you saw a couple of interviews before but let me reiterate. If you would ever like to fight, I will fly to you. We’ll fight on a plane, on a train. We would be like greens, eggs and ham, man! Wherever you want to make it happen, we can make it happen. I think you’re an amazing fighter. You’re very skilled and I would love to share the ring with you.”

Torrez Jr (14-0, 12 KOs) politely called out Itauma following the Englishman’s fifth round destruction of Jermaine Franklin Jr on Saturday in Manchester.

The 26-year-old southpaw is currently ranked in three of the sanctioning bodies top 15. Torrez Jr holds the fourth spot with the IBF, seventh place with the WBC and sits in ninth position with the WBO.

“I think the thing that separates me from a lot of these other fighters is that I’m going to take you to hell and back,” Torrez Jr added. “You know a lot of these guys are going to be like ‘I’ll knock you out in a round or two.’ You better, because if not, it’s going to be a long night. I’m going to be in your face. I’m going to be just on top of you 24/7. I’m not going to let you breathe.”

The Olympic silver medalist has previously called out the English heavyweight hopeful in numerous interviews. Torrez Jr was last in action this past November, knocking out Tomas Salek inside a round in Mexico. Prior to that, Torrez Jr picked up his biggest scalp to date, defeating Guido Vianello by unanimous decision last April.

[jamesmcdonnell]

wonder if Chisora wins on Saturday they go for that as a summer stadium PPV ? Would be an easy sell

Sells well but it's high risk for Itauma. He obviously looks good but Chisora is a veteran with a decent chin. He can make it ugly in a way that Itauma might not know how to deal with, will Frank risk that?

I disagree, Chisora is basic jabs and hooks. Itauma lays him out within 4 rounds. I think Baby Miller is the fight for Itauma.

Miller though is another of these opponent types. How much ambition does he really have., 37 years of age as well.

[Coco]

Sells well but it's high risk for Itauma. He obviously looks good but Chisora is a veteran with a decent chin. He can make it ugly in a way that Itauma might not know how to deal with, will Frank risk that?

I disagree, Chisora is basic jabs and hooks. Itauma lays him out within 4 rounds. I think Baby Miller is the fight for Itauma.

Miller though is another of these opponent types. How much ambition does he really have., 37 years of age as well.

But would hopefully give Moses experience in the 2nd half of a fight

[dookus]

I disagree, Chisora is basic jabs and hooks. Itauma lays him out within 4 rounds. I think Baby Miller is the fight for Itauma.

Miller though is another of these opponent types. How much ambition does he really have., 37 years of age as well.

But would hopefully give Moses experience in the 2nd half of a fight

One thing is for sure, Miller would give us a better idea about Itauma's power (and if he can survive it, Itauma's stamina). He ate Dubois' best shots for most of their fight

[joshj909]

wonder if Chisora wins on Saturday they go for that as a summer stadium PPV ? Would be an easy sell

Sells well but it's high risk for Itauma. He obviously looks good but Chisora is a veteran with a decent chin. He can make it ugly in a way that Itauma might not know how to deal with, will Frank risk that?

I disagree, Chisora is basic jabs and hooks. Itauma lays him out within 4 rounds. I think Baby Miller is the fight for Itauma.

He's basic but he asks questions and has managed to be competitive, even in bursts, against much better opposition than Miller. We still don't know much about Itauma's defence or stamina. We know he has power and is quick offensively but what happens when someone like Chisora leans on him and lands repeated body shots? It's not to say that Chisora would beat him but if you put the same type of opponents in front of him then why do you expect him to learn anything? Miller might not even beat Pero in their upcoming fight, I don't see what he asks Itauma other than being a punchbag for 12 rounds.

[MasterG]

Connections of Muret Gassiev are wanting to fight Moses next.

[joshj909]

Connections of Muret Gassiev are wanting to fight Moses next.

I think Itauma beats Gassiev but I don't think he should choose that fight. The WBA Regular belt is a curse and has caused constant issues for years. It's never defended against someone any good and it doesn't lead to a shot at the proper belt either.

[forcefraser]

Andy Ruiz or Hrgovic for me. I he stops either of them I'll be fully onboard, especially Hrgovic

[Ruthless-RKO]

Connections of Muret Gassiev are wanting to fight Moses next.

I think Itauma beats Gassiev but I don't think he should choose that fight. The WBA Regular belt is a curse and has caused constant issues for years. It's never defended against someone any good and it doesn't lead to a shot at the proper belt either.

Ofcourse it gets you a shot: if the right boxer wins it.

[joshj909]

Connections of Muret Gassiev are wanting to fight Moses next.

I think Itauma beats Gassiev but I don't think he should choose that fight. The WBA Regular belt is a curse and has caused constant issues for years. It's never defended against someone any good and it doesn't lead to a shot at the proper belt either.

Ofcourse it gets you a shot: if the right boxer wins it.

2 out of 10 regular champs have ended up fightin the proper champ. Not great odds. After Povetkin, who's reign ended in 2013, nobody has defended it more than once. 2 have been stripped. The WBA have been sued 2 or 3 times. The WBA have opportunities for the mandatory for the full belt without the regular belt being involved, makes more sense to go for that so you don't get mandated poor opponents and don't have to pay extra fees.

[Delta Jay]

Bunce and Ronald Mac is a proper mad hatters tea party

Catching up from the weekend, this is a cracker

[Oiky]

I think I need to listen to Ronald Mac an Buncey meself, can imagine it