Moses Itauma asserts that his fifth-round decisive victory over Jermaine Franklin was an “instinctive” act, and he intends to “respect” the necessity for patience in his career amidst inquiries about a confrontation with Oleksandr Usyk.
In what marked his 14th contest, the 21-year-old British pugilist, Itauma, terminated Franklin’s streak of remaining unstopped across 27 bouts, thereby moving him nearer to a prospective clash with acclaimed titans like the unified heavyweight titleholder Usyk and one of the Ukrainian’s predecessors, Anthony Joshua.
“Usyk has earned the privilege to do as he wishes,” stated Itauma, disclosing how Lee Wylie, one of his coaches, presented him with a video they had examined from his “scouting report” on the 32-year-old Franklin in his locker room subsequent to the triumph.
“There exists a hierarchical structure that I must acknowledge. I genuinely do not concern myself with what these other heavyweights contemplate or perceive.”
“I comprehend the reality and the proficiency I possess. Now I am obliged to venture forth and demonstrate it.”
Why Moses Itauma and Anthony Joshua are ‘dissimilar’
Itauma’s trainer, Ben Davison, steered Joshua to triumphs over Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou, alongside a knockout defeat at Wembley Stadium to Daniel Dubois between the years 2023 and 2024.
“They represent somewhat distinct personalities,” Davison remarked to Seconds Out regarding the formidable punchers. “AJ is sculpted like a Greek deity and is an exceptional orator.”
“Moses possesses this ‘astonishing’ quality of being a 21-year-old who appears and accomplishes extraordinary feats. His aptitude – a flamboyant type of approach – coupled with his knockout might… he maintains considerable composure with it.”
Joshua has lauded Davison as “phenomenal” but departed from him prior to his sole subsequent fight – a preposterous victory against amateur and YouTuber Jake Paul in Miami last December – because the 36-year-old wished to evade the “diversions” of London.
The combatant known as ‘AJ’ has been associated with a much-anticipated skirmish with Tyson Fury, who is also a former unified champion with two losses to Usyk on his record.
Fury – arguably the singular Briton who can currently rival Joshua’s popularity among active fighters – will contend for the initial time in 16 months when the towering Mancunian confronts Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11.
Will Moses Itauma vs Oleksandr Usyk materialize?
Usyk, who conquered Joshua twice and has since forged friendships and collaborated with him, last competed with a knockout triumph over Dubois at Wembley in July 2025.
Itauma is receptive to engaging Usyk in the near future, yet Davison holds the belief that another of his protégés, Fabio Wardley, might be next in line if he successfully defends his WBO title against Dubois on May 9.
“Should Fabio defeat Dubois, Usyk claims he will fight Fabio,” Davison declared, downplaying discussions of the 31-year-old confronting one of boxing’s greatest athletes of all time.
“We are considerably distant from a scenario emerging where it becomes ‘this fight is imperative to witness.’ It is an unneeded discourse.”
Moses Itauma on Jermaine Franklin stoppage footage
The American Franklin endured the full duration in defeats to Whyte in 2022 and Joshua the subsequent year, yet he had no effective response for Itauma, who secured the 12th knockout of a professional journey that commenced in January 2023.
“I was within the ropes, striving to execute my coach’s strategies, derived from what we had rehearsed,” Itauma mused.
“When I unleashed that strike, I gave it no forethought. Those are the moments that conclude the spectacle. I must extend profound gratitude to Ben Davison, Lee Wylie, and [coach] Barry Smith. They have been an instrumental component of my progression.”
“I am delighted that I am capable of gratifying not merely myself and the spectators, but also the collective. I was aware I could incapacitate him, but not with a singular blow.”
“He is renowned for his capacity to absorb power. He withstood Dillian Whyte’s and Anthony Joshua’s most potent punches.”