MANCHESTER, England – Moses Itauma was oozing with confidence at the post-fight press conference following his impressive finish of the-never-before-stopped Jermain Franklin.
The young heavyweight put in yet another dazzling performance last night at Manchester’s Co-op Live. The tough and durable Franklin could not stand up to the 21-year-old’s frightening speed and power, and was bowled over in Round 5 by a left uppercut that sent the American face-first into the canvas.
Itauma hardly celebrated after the contest was waved off, not because his opponent still lay flat on the floor, but because he knew he’d do it and that’s just what Moses Itauma does. One might expect a 21-year-old to jump on the ropes in joy after becoming the first man to stop Franklin, something both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte could not, but that is not Itauma’s way.
“Walking out, I was just thinking to myself, I always knew I could do this, but I didn't think it would be so soon,” said Itauma, now 14-0 (12 KOs). “I've just turned 21, I've got Dillian Whyte, Demsey McKean, now Jermaine Franklin – all knockouts by the way – under my belt. Obviously, I've done what some other British heavyweights couldn't do, and they've gone on to achieve successful things.
“So what's the limit for me?”
The sky, if last night’s showing is anything to go by. It was clear to see from the start that Itauma was levels above the experienced Franklin. There was no rush with Itauma’s work, who has been guilty in the past of being in a hurry to get his opponent out of there, and there was no panic when the tough American took Itauma’s best in the opening sessions.
“I knew that I was able to knock him out, but I didn't think with one punch,” said Itauma of the finish in the fifth. “He's known to take people's power, like the best punches, Dillian Whyte's best punches, Anthony Joshua's best punches. Fabio [Wardley, stablemate and WBO title holder] has been sparring him, we all know what Fabio can do, and [Franklin] took his best punches. I tried to go out there and make a statement, knock him out, but then it's the basics that got the job done.”
Many see Itauma as the heavyweight division's king in waiting. His talent is undoubtable, but there are questions that remain unanswered. Can he do it in the championship rounds and can he take a shot?
“I think my team wanted me to get some rounds in, so I was able to do that,” said Itama, whose last three contests have ended inside the opening two sessions. “If I'm being completely honest, I don't think it could have gone any better. I went the rounds that were necessary, I got a job done. And to all you lot that wanted to ask me if I got a chin, I took a shot as well. I took two shots.
“I finally answered some questions, so now it's about what's next, isn't it?”
Indeed it is now about what is next for the youngster with the world at his feet. His promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, announced following the fight that Itauma would be back out in the UK in July. Itauma stated in the ring post-fight that he did have his eye on Filip Hrgovic prior to the Croatian signing to fight Dave Allen in May.
“I just think I like the Filip Hrgovic fight,” young Itauma said. “There's nothing personal to these fighters. I've always just tried to strive for greatness, and Hrgovic, I think it's a great fight for me, but obviously he's boxing Dave Allen, so we just got to go back to the drawing board and see who's available.”
Perhaps the only man that can be competitive with Itauma is the man who sits atop the division, Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian great has no plans to face Itauma, stating that he “wouldn’t want to break” him.
“Listen, Usyk has earned the right to do whatever he wants,” said Itauma of his comment. “There's a pecking order that obviously I've got to respect. I don't pay attention to none of that. I don't really care what these other heavyweights think or feel. I know what the truth is and I know the ability that I'm capable of, it's just I've got to go out there and show it.”
Itauma certainly showed his capabilities as the division’s next king, and one would think Usyk now knows it too.
