Moses Itauma believes Jermaine Franklin, his opponent on Saturday in Manchester, is “the final piece of the puzzle”.
The 21 year old has struggled to get rounds under his belt, through wiping out most of his competition with ease – including veteran Dillian Whyte, who couldn’t last a round at the end of 2025.
Enter Franklin, an experienced American – 24-2 (15 KOs) – who has been brought in to face Itauma at the Co-op Live Arena to give the English contender something to contend with.
Speaking at Thursday’s final press conference, Itauma said he knew Franklin was a measuring stick.
The 32 year old has gone the distance with Whyte and with Anthony Joshua in his previous fights in the UK, and he is supposed to offer resistance, make it difficult for southpaw Itauma, 13-0 (11 KOs), and possibly go the distance.
Itauma, who has been linked with the division’s elite given his lofty world rankings, said: “I’ve been turning them down when they’ve been asking me questions about other heavyweights. I have a serious opponent in Jermaine Franklin. We’ve asked for this fight for a year and a half or something and now we’ve got it I feel like this is kind of the final piece of the puzzle.
“There’s questions that my team want to know about me and there’s questions that I want to know about myself and I’m sure there are a lot of questions the fans want to know about me as well, so I feel like Jermaine Franklin is the final piece of the puzzle. So when I get asked about other fighters, that’s not going to happen if I don’t get past Jermaine Franklin. This is a serious fight.”
Itauma, from Chatham, Kent, said he would rather be the underdog, but Franklin feels he is being overlooked.
“I feel disrespected by it but it’s part of the game,” he said. “I’m used to the politics. I’m used to the tricks everybody does, so I’m just ready to fight.”
Frank Warren, Itauma’s promoter, said: “He’s in with an experienced guy who’s going to take the fight to him and who’s going to try and ‘old man’ him… This is by no means a foregone conclusion and this is his toughest test to date by far.”
In the chief support, Willy Hutchinson, the 19-2 (14 KOs) Scot who has boxed the likes of Craig Richards and Joshua Buatsi, meets Ezra Taylor, who is unbeaten after 13 fights and nine stoppages at light heavyweight.
“I’m looking forward to this fight,” said Hutchinson. “I’ve worked very hard. It’s easy money. I think this man can get seriously hurt and no one can see [what Hutchinson can]. I believe I will do the job on him.”
“I’m not just here to become a world champion – I’m here to be the best in the world,” countered Taylor. “And I stand on it. On Saturday, you’ll see glimpses of why I say this.”
On the latest Queensberry Promotions Magnificent Seven bill, middleweight contender Shakiel Thompson, 15-0 (11 KOs), a 6ft 3ins southpaw from Sheffield, takes a step up against Brad Pauls.
“I’m the better man, I’m the better boxer,” said Thompson. “I can beat Brad Pauls anyway he wants it to go – I can adapt and switch it up. So I’m looking forward to a great fight. He’s been in with some really good fighters but it’s a step up I’m ready for and I’m looking to make a statement against Brad Pauls… They’ve fed him to the lion and I’m hungry.”
Pauls, the veteran Cornish middleweight is 20-2-1 (11 KOs), and knows he has boxed in better class than Thompson has to date.
“With this sort of fight and what I can get from it, it will change my whole life when I win,” said Pauls. “Obviously Shakiel is ranked very highly and it’s very likely the winner is going to go and fight for a world title, so to say I’m two fights away from being a world champion is crazy and it adds some extra per cent to the motivation. I’ve been the underdog before and I’ve ripped up the script before.”
In a bout for the vacant European featherweight title, Liam Davies, 17-1 (8 KOs), faces experienced Italian Franseco Grandelli, who is 21-4-2 (6 KOs).
“He’s a good fighter,” Davies said. “I’m happy to be here, I’m happy to have the test and this is my opportunity to show I’m one of the best featherweights. I hope he’s ready. I’m excited. I’m grateful for the opportunity. It’s been a long time coming and roll on Saturday night. I’ve got a lot to prove, but I’m ready.”
Davies had been preparing for Zak Miller, who withdrew injured.
