Overview
- Moses Itauma knocked out Jermaine Franklin with a left uppercut in Round 5, becoming the first fighter to stop the durable American and drawing a near 15,000 crowd in Manchester.
- Sky Sports says Itauma is set to become the WBO mandatory challenger tied to the Wardley–Dubois title bout, positioning him near a world-title opportunity.
- Promoter Frank Warren plans a quick return with a July fight against a big-name opponent, while manager Francis Warren will petition the IBF at its May convention to secure a path off the Sanchez–Torrez eliminator.
- Derek Chisora urged a slower route that runs through the British, Commonwealth and European titles, arguing the 21-year-old should build experience before world level.
- Itauma credited trainer Ben Davison’s detailed scouting reports and film study for the game plan that set up the Franklin finish, highlighting preparation as a key edge.