Franklin eyes breakthrough for American generation in Itauma fight

The pair meet at Manchester's Co-op Live atop the bill at Queensberry Promotions' Magnificent Seven, live on DAZN.

Franklin, long considered one of the leading domestic American heavyweights, knows that Itauma offers a hard bout.

But ahead their encounter, the star feels that he can lay down a gauntlet for the current generation of stars back home.

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"I see myself after Saturday night fighting for a world championship," he exclusively told DAZN News. "I'm trying to lead it off.

"The boxing landscape changes a lot, but I think the future for America is good. After this fight, I'll be ready to make my plans.

"I feel like we've got some heavyweights that can make a lot of noise back home. I'd love to fight back home, any time too.

"But you've got to take the opportunities when you've been given them. I'm just relaxing and resting up before Saturday now."

Quiet confidence sets Itauma's stage

DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel

Bustled between suites at the Manchester Deansgate Hotel across Thursday, Moses Itauma kept his powder mostly dry.

The young heavyweight has never been the most expressive of fighters on occasion, letting his fights speak for him.

But there is a quiet confidence that feels almost physically tangible when he walks into a room, a gravity shift of mood.

Itauma has seldom been one to talk trash, and his respect for Jermaine Franklin's skills have been often pronounced.

Yet now mere hours rather than weeks away, it's hard to escape the sense that he has the stage exactly where he wants.

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