Itauma stops Franklin cold - what next for rising heavywe...

What’s Happening

Alright so Briton Moses Itauma thought ‘did I fr do that’ after knocking out Jermaine Franklin with an uppercut in the fifth round of their fight in Manchester.

Itauma stops Franklin cold - what next for rising heavyweight? Image source, Image caption, Moses Itauma now has an 86% knockout rate in his wins By Kal Sajad BBC Sport boxing journalist at Co-Op Live, Manchester Published 30 minutes ago Briton Moses Itauma reinforced his status as one of heavyweight boxings brightest stars with a destructive fifth-round stoppage of Jermaine Franklin at Manchesters Co-op Live Arena. (yes, really)

The 21-year-old methodically broke down the American - who had been brought in as a genuine test - landing crisp combinations and heavy power punches.

The Details

Franklin climbed off the canvas in the third round, but was knocked out cold in the fifth by a clean uppercut. “The first two rounds I thought it would go the distance.

Then in the fifth round when I caught with him the uppercut, I thought did I fr do that? ” Itauma dropped on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Why This Matters

Talk will now turn to bigger fights and world-titles after the unbeaten prospect recorded his 12th stoppage in 14 professional fights. Franklin - stopped for the first time in 27 bouts - had before only been beaten Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. Itauma dropped he would “love to fight” unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk but added he will “sit and wait my turn”.

This could change the dynamics of the sport going forward.

The Bottom Line

Itauma stops Franklin with big knockout, wants to fight Usyk - reaction Its a breakdown job - Itauma picks apart Franklin Image source, PA Media Image caption, Itauma is in a good position in several rankings for a world title shot Around 16,000 the fandom packed into the Manchester arena bought into the Itauma buzz, greeting him with a warm roar as he was walked to the ring Meekz. Itauma - the prodigy who was sparring seasoned professionals while still at school - was in iconic form from the first bell, using his speed and variation to send Franklin backtracking.

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