Itauma wasted no time. He planted his feet and allowed his hands to go behind his gun, and broke Franklin with speed and a clean strike. The end came sharp. A left uppercut in the middle left Franklin unsteady, then a right hand sent him face down on the canvas.
That type of suspension gets the attention of the sanctioning body. Itauma was already ranked No. 1 in the WBO, and this result will push the move.
“With Moses Itauma’s current position as the WBO #1 ranked contender in the world, and defeating former world champion Jermaine Franklin by knockout in defense of his WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight title, he has reaffirmed his standing in the division as an up and coming fighter.
“I will officially recommend that Mr. Itauma be appointed as a Mandatory Challenger in the WBO Heavyweight Division.”
The belt is held by Fabio Wardley, who defends against Daniel Dubois on May 9 in Manchester. That battle now carries more than self-defense. It sets the next move for Itauma.
If Wardley retains the belt, the situation is tense. Ben Davison works with both men, and that makes a direct fight difficult. Itauma also holds the top spot in the WBA, giving his team another way to keep him busy while the WBO ranking is stabilized.
If Dubois wins, the path is clear. A two-time champion against an increasingly powerful opponent with quick hands is a fight that makes sense quickly.
Itauma has already mentioned Filip Hrgovic as a target, but Hrgovic is tied with Dave Allen on May 16. That leaves Murat Gassiev as a viable option. Gassiev has shown a willingness to fight, and that’s not a name the heavyweights are rushing to throw around.
Itauma is 21 years old and already fights like someone who knows distance and time. He lands his feet and lets the combinations flow with authority, combining straight rights with uppercuts up the middle.
The WBO must now stand up. Itauma did his part.
