Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – Tony Bellew previews heavyweight clash

Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) vs Jermaine Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) was due to headline the January 24 Magnificent 7 promoted by Queensberry. The card was ultimately postponed until March 28, following a torn bicep muscle injury sustained by Itauma. Tony Bellew has spoken to PokerScout, previewing the main event scheduled for March.

Tony Bellew previews Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin

Looking ahead to the main event on March 28, Bellew said:

“Jermaine Franklin is a very durable fighter. He’s never been stopped. The question is whether Moses Itauma can be the first man to do it. I think it all depends on Moses. If he goes out there wanting rounds, he’ll get them. Franklin is exactly the kind of fighter who can give you rounds. But if Moses wants to go out there and make a statement – put his name in lights and say, ‘I want to knock this guy out’ – then I think he can stop him. 

“Franklin is a good, competent fighter. Very tough, very sound defensively. He’s not the biggest puncher and doesn’t really fight with an aggressive intent to win. It’s usually a lot of spoiling, grinding, and the odd counter here and there. But he does a job for fighters who’ve been knocking people out – he’s the guy you go to when you want rounds. So again, it depends on Moses. If he wants rounds, he’ll get them. If he doesn’t, I think he stops him around five or six rounds. Probably a mercy stoppage. I don’t see Franklin being knocked out cold or put on the floor, but I do see Moses peppering him, stunning him, and the referee eventually stepping in.”

Magnificent 7 full fight card

• Moses Itauma vs Jermain Franklin, 10 rounds, heavyweights
• Willy Hutchinson vs Ezra Taylor, 10 rounds, light heavyweights
• Zak Miller vs Liam Davies, 10 rounds, featherweights
• Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls, 10 rounds, middleweights
• Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton, 10 rounds, middleweights
• Aqib Fiaz vs Jordan Flynn, 10 rounds, lightweights
• Alex Murphy vs Josh Holmes, 10 rounds, lightweights
• Nelson Birchall vs Ryan Griffiths, 8 rounds, super featherweights
• Aadam Hamed vs Kasey Bradnum, 4 rounds, super lightweights
• John Joe Carrigan vs Danny Costello, 4 rounds, super welterweights

Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Itauma vs Franklin, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.