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Itauma eyes heavyweight proof of title potential with Franklin test
Moses Itauma believes he can "prove" that he is among the sport's best heavyweights in 2026 as he prepares to face Jermaine Franklin.
The Briton will take on the American later this month atop the bill at Queesnberry Promotions' latest Magnificent Seven card on DAZN.
Originally slated for January at Manchester's Co-op Live, an injury forced Itauma to postpone his first contest of the year amid fine form.
But as he counts down the days until he is back in the ring, he is backing himself to ensure he is seen among the glamour division's best.
"I feel like I am," he told Sky Sports News. "I just have to prove it. Jermaine's going to be a good fight.
"I'm looking forward to it. When your work has been recognised, obviously, you do feel good about it.
"Jermaine Franklin's got a job, I've got a job and people outside the ring, they've got their job to talk.
"The past and the future don't exist, it's only the present and in the present I've got Jermaine Franklin."
Itauma is unbeaten across his professional career so far, and silenced critics with a one-round demolition against Dillian Whyte in August.
Franklin arguably represents another calibre of test however, having never been stopped and with only two reverses on his record so far.
Itauma lays down challenge for 2026
DAZN News correspondent Andrew Steel
March is almost two weeks old, and the Moses Itauma hype-train - after an unscheduled stop in January - is rolling up to speed again.
The discussions around the star, seen by many as a future world champion, tend to be a case of when rather than if for his title hopes.
Certainly, Itauma's desire to prove his worth among the best active heavyweights is already well-founded within the sport's rankings.
The WBA and WBO have him as their top-listed challenger, while he sits high with the WBC too as he heads for Jermaine Franklin.
Victory there - especially a quick one - will only increase the clamour for him to get a shot at a major strap somewhere next in 2026.
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