British heavyweight Moses Itauma will put his unbeaten record on the line against American Jermaine Franklin at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on 24 January. The bout will headline Queensberry Promotions’ “Magnificent Seven” event, with Scotland’s light-heavyweight Willy Hutchinson meeting England’s Ezra Taylor in the co-main event.
Itauma, 20, is unbeaten in 13 fights. Franklin, 32, has a professional record of 24 wins and two losses. Promoter Frank Warren said the card celebrates his 45th year in boxing and praised the quality of fighters on the bill, describing Itauma as a heavyweight prodigy facing a very tough American in Franklin.
Itauma had been expected to fight on 13 December, but a series of issues delayed his return. Several potential opponents turned him down before the WBA ordered him to face Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev for the WBA “Regular” heavyweight title; Pulev then announced a fight with Russian Murat Gassiev on 12 December.
Itauma is on a run of nine stoppage victories in a row, six inside the first round, and his most recent win was a one-round defeat of Dillian Whyte in August. Franklin’s only defeats came against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte.
Also on the Manchester card is an all-British featherweight contest between Liam Davies and Zak Miller.
