Boxing
Itauma vs Franklin - Frank Warren makes Nigel Benn comparison as he reveals the best result 'for business' ahead of heavyweight clash
Itauma vs Franklin: Subscribe to watch - Saturday
Frank Warren has guided many young careers to the top of the boxing world and next in line is heavyweight sensation, Moses Itauma.
Franklin arrives in Britain with a tough reputation after going the distance with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte but even holding that profile does not compare to the hype surrounding Itauma as boxing’s next big thing.
Itauma ready to prove himself in toughest test yet!
Watch behind the scenes at Itauma's training camp
Still only 21, in the last 16 months, Itauma has only needed less than two rounds to dispose of Whyte and Demsey McKean with such results having many in the boxing industry identifying him as the man to take the heavyweight division forward.
To do that, Itauma must deal with the lurking threat of Franklin who derailed another heavyweight hope last year when outpointing Kazakh puncher, Ivan Dychko, a fighter who entered that bout with 14 stoppages from 15 wins.
Franklin has either gone the 10 or 12 round distance in eight of his last 10 fights and there are some within the boxing community who are convinced he is the man to provide Itauma with some much-needed rounds.
Despite Itauma requiring more experience when the time arrives to take on the elite names of the division like Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, and Fabio Wardley, Warren is still insistent that a stoppage win against Franklin is the right result to make Itauma an even bigger name.
“Well, what's best for business is to knock him over. I mean, that's what people want to see. You know, that's what my heart says,” said Warren when speaking exclusively to DAZN News.
“I don't underestimate Moses anyway. I think he's one of those guys. I think he's a very smart operator. I think he's got a good Plan B. I know he can box. You only can see the way he shapes up and especially in that last fight he had with Dillian. He does his bit of work, comes out, he goes back in again, keeps himself out of range.
“So, I think if it comes to all fighters, big punchers, eventually someone will go the distance with him. And that's how it is.
"I remember Nigel Benn when he turned pro, I think he had about 10 or 12 knockouts on the row, and then somebody stayed with him. And that's how it is. That certainly will happen to Moses.
“But whatever happens, he's got to look good, he's got to do the business, he's got to learn from it. And I think this is a step in the right direction for him.”
Watch Itauma vs. Franklin with a DAZN subscription
Knockout sensation Moses Itauma faces his toughest test against Jermaine Franklin this Saturday night, March 28. Watch exclusively with a DAZN Ultimate subscription to also get PPVs Chisora vs. Wilder (April 4), Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), and Usyk vs Verhoeven (May 23) included.
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