One of British boxing’s brightest stars finally returns. Moses Itauma steps back into the ring on Saturday, March 28 at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester — the main event of Queensberry Promotions’ “The Magnificent Seven” showcase on DAZN. The 21-year-old Gravesend southpaw, a knockout machine with 11 stoppages in 13 fights and a résumé that already includes Dillian Whyte, faces the toughest test of his young career in Jermaine Franklin Jr, the seasoned American veteran who has gone the full distance with both Anthony Joshua and Whyte himself.
If you’re already questioning the depth of the challenge — so is Franklin, and he isn’t happy about it.
| Date | Saturday, March 28, 2026 |
| Venue | Co-op Live Arena, Manchester |
| Promotion | Queensberry Promotions |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Rounds | 12 |
| Broadcaster | DAZN (UK & Global) |
| Estimated Ringwalk | ~10:00 PM GMT / 5:00 PM EST |
Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs, 85% KO rate) is the 21-year-old English heavyweight who Frank Warren has been nurturing since the age of 15. The 6’6” southpaw boasts an 85% knockout rate that is as terrifying as it sounds in practice — he stopped the clock on Dillian Whyte in just 119 seconds last August, then finished former Australian title challenger Demsey McKean in under two minutes in December 2024.
What makes the data so extraordinary is the compactness of it all. Itauma has averaged just two rounds per fight across his professional career. In his last five fights combined, he has spent a total of fewer than ten rounds inside the ring. That is both a selling point and the central talking point heading into this bout — a man ranked WBA #1, WBO #1, and WBC #3 at heavyweight, who the betting market cannot see being troubled, yet who has never been truly tested.
Jermaine Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) is the Saginaw, Michigan-born veteran who arrived as the “give him rounds” opponent — and he is absolutely furious about the framing. “I’m not Jermaine that will give him rounds. I’ve heard that. It’s very disrespectful,” Franklin told The Ring. “I’m a warrior inside and out. I’ll die for this. He’ll have to do the job. I’m not lying down for anybody.”
The credentials are genuine. Franklin pushed both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte to 12 rounds in 2022–23. His 65% KO rate demonstrates real power. Most recently, he returned from a long absence with a unanimous decision win over Ivan Dychko in September 2025 — going the full 10 rounds with the towering Kazakhstani. That’s exactly the durability and ring IQ Itauma has never been tested against. The question isn’t whether Itauma is better. It’s whether Franklin is the man to finally take him into the championship rounds.
| Moses Itauma | Jermaine Franklin | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 13-0 | 24-2 |
| KOs | 11 (85%) | 15 (65%) |
| Age | 21 | 32 |
| Height | 6’6” / 198 cm | 6’2” / 188 cm |
| Reach | 78.7” / 200 cm | 77.2” / 196 cm |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Career Rounds | 26 | 200+ |
The numbers tell a story of generational contrast. Itauma’s 26 career rounds represent fewer total rounds than some of Franklin’s individual fights. Every metric points one way — but boxing has never been played out on spreadsheets.
Moses Itauma — Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | Dillian Whyte | W | TKO | 1 |
| May 2025 | Mike Balogun | W | TKO | 2 |
| Dec 2024 | Demsey McKean | W | KO | 1 |
| Jul 2024 | Mariusz Wach | W | KO | 2 |
| May 2024 | Ilja Mezencev | W | TKO | 2 |
Five fights. Ten combined rounds. Itauma has not seen round three in over two years of professional boxing.
Jermaine Franklin — Last 5 Fights
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Rd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2025 | Ivan Dychko | W | UD | 10 |
| May 2024 | Devin Vargas | W | TKO | 6 |
| Jul 2023 | Isaac Munoz | W | UD | 10 |
| Apr 2023 | Anthony Joshua | L | UD | 12 |
| Nov 2022 | Dillian Whyte | L | UD | 12 |
Franklin has taken two of the sport’s best British heavyweights to the final bell. Itauma stopped one of those men in 119 seconds.
The tactical puzzle for Itauma is not whether he can hurt Franklin — it is whether he can find him. Franklin’s defensive habits are shaped by two world-level campaigns. Against Joshua and Whyte he showed genuine resilience: absorbing punishment, staying crafty, and hearing the final bell both times.
Itauma’s southpaw stance and 4-inch height advantage are significant structural edges. But his 26 career rounds represent uncharted territory — if Franklin can make this a back-and-forth battle through rounds five, six, seven, Itauma will be exploring conditioning and ring craft he has simply never needed before. Franklin’s plan will be to clinch in close, roughhouse, deny Itauma space to set his feet, and see what the young lion does when he has to think rather than just react.
For Itauma, the September 2025 Dychko fight matters. Franklin showed he can still grind through 10 rounds when required. That is the tool he will bring on Saturday.
Moses Itauma
Jermaine Franklin Jr
| UK Odds | US Moneyline | |
|---|---|---|
| Itauma | 1/16 | -2500 |
| Franklin | 10/1 | +1100 |
| Draw | 33/1 | +2500 |
The 1/16 price says everything the betting market thinks. Itauma should stop Franklin before the championship rounds — the question is only whether it comes in the middle rounds or earlier. Franklin’s experience earns him more respect than anyone on Itauma’s previous résumé, but the physical gap is enormous and the form is one-sided. Prediction: Itauma W TKO Round 5.
| Country | Broadcaster | Start Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | DAZN | 5:00 PM GMT (Main Card) |
| USA | DAZN | 12:00 PM EST |
| Global | DAZN | — |
Estimated main event ringwalk: ~10:00 PM GMT / 5:00 PM EST.
The Magnificent Seven lives up to its name. Six more outstanding contests make this one of the strongest domestic shows of the year:
When is Itauma vs Franklin Jr? Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Co-op Live Arena, Manchester. Estimated ringwalk ~10:00 PM GMT / 5:00 PM EST.
How to watch Itauma vs Franklin Jr in the UK? Live on DAZN. Main card starts at 5:00 PM GMT.
How to watch Itauma vs Franklin Jr in the USA? Live on DAZN. Main card from 12:00 PM EST, main event ringwalk approximately 5:00 PM EST.
What are the odds for Itauma vs Franklin Jr? Itauma is an overwhelming 1/16 (-2500) favourite. Franklin is priced at 10/1 (+1100).
What makes Moses Itauma so dangerous? An 85% KO rate across 13 professional fights, including a round-1 TKO of Dillian Whyte in August 2025. He carries a 4-inch height advantage and southpaw power that has yet to be tested beyond round two in over two years.
Can Jermaine Franklin cause an upset? Franklin has gone 12 rounds with both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. He is the most experienced opponent Itauma has faced. But the physical mismatch — 4 inches of height, nearly 3 inches of reach — and Itauma’s otherworldly power make an upset extremely unlikely.
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