Not long ago, Moses Itauma was racing to become the youngest world heavyweight champion, targeting the record of 20 years and four months set by Mike Tyson when he demolished Trevor Berbick in two rounds decades ago. Since that goal slipped past last year, this still-young man from Kent has embraced the wisdom of taking measured strides toward becoming the future of heavyweight boxing.
A Critical Step in Manchester
The highest of those steps so far confronts him this Saturday night in Manchester in the broad body of Jermaine Franklin, the American who is in the process of trying to regain his place as a contender. At 21 years and three months, Itauma is ready and willing to add this experience to his resume, unperturbed that he had to delay this meeting with Franklin because of an injury sustained in January.
Heavyweight Landscape and Future Prospects
Yet another statement knockout inflicted by his scary punching power would keep him firmly in line for accession to the throne once the complexity of the current heavyweight situation is resolved. Fabio Wardley upset the Saudi applecart when his late knock-out of Joseph Parker strengthened Frank Warren's hold over much of the heavyweight division. Not only is Britain's longest-running promoter—45 years and counting—putting on this weekend's show but also the May 9 fight for the WBO title between Wardley and Daniel Dubois.
Both of whom are in the Warren stable, which should make it easy to put together the winner against Itauma. Beyond that, unravelling the situation of world No. 1 Oleksandr Usyk will not be easy. The Ukrainian maestro is defending his WBC belt later in May in a bizarre glitz and glamour fight against Dutch kick-boxing legend Rico Verhoeven in a son-et-lumiere spectacular on the site of the Giza pyramids near Cairo.
Timing and Patience in Itauma's Career
Once that has been taken to the bank, the Ukrainian war hero is pondering a defence of the WBC and any other alpha-belts he would still be holding against long-waiting German contender Agit Kabayel and then a trilogy battle against the now unretired Tyson Fury before an undisputed championship clash with whoever comes out top between Itauma, Wardley, and Dubois.
Itauma, whose family emigrated to England in 2008 when he was four to escape racist abuse in Slovakia, has time on his side. Moses may need the patience of Job while all that is sorted, but Warren has counselled him from the beginning, and the boxer says: 'I'll be ready when my promoter tells me the time and the opportunity has come.'
Assessing the Opponent: Jermaine Franklin
Not that his imminent opponent is likely to hold him up for too long. Franklin has won 24 of his 26 fights by KO. But his two defeats were inflicted on visits to England. He did take both Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua the distance and did look to be unlucky not be given the decision against the first of those two.
So it will be a proper statement if Itauma blows him away early, which this correspondent expects him to do. Although it might tell us more about his apparently dazzling prospects if he is taken beyond the sixth round for the first time.
Itauma v Franklin will be televised live on DAZN this Saturday night.
