Moses Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin in Manchester heavyweight test
British heavyweight Moses Itauma faces the toughest test of his professional career when he fights American Jermaine Franklin at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Saturday, 28 March 2026.
The 21-year-old headlines Queensberry’s Magnificent 7 event as he returns to the ring following a torn bicep.
That sparring injury forced the original January bout to be postponed by two months.
Now fully recovered, the powerful southpaw is seeking another emphatic victory on his rapid ascent to world-title contention.
Final piece of the puzzle
The unbeaten fighter boasts a formidable record of 13 victories with 11 knockouts since turning professional in 2023.
He was last seen demolishing Dillian Whyte in under two minutes last summer in Riyadh.
That dominant performance secured Commonwealth gold to sit alongside his WBA International and WBO Inter-Continental belts.
The British prospect clearly recognises the significance of this weekend’s clash.
This is the final piece of the puzzle before eyeing huge fights and world title opportunities.
Moses Itauma
Durable opposition
Franklin represents a significant step up in class for the home favourite.
The 32-year-old possesses a record of 24 wins and two defeats, but importantly has never been stopped inside the distance.
Both of the American’s career losses came during consecutive London appearances in 2023.
He was edged out by Whyte at Wembley Arena before losing a hard-fought unanimous decision to Anthony Joshua four months later.
Fight times and undercard details
The undercard proceedings in Manchester will begin at 17:00 GMT.
Ring walks for the main event are expected to take place at approximately 23:00 GMT.
Domestic viewers can watch the entire broadcast live via a standard DAZN subscription.
The event features an extensive undercard packed with domestic talent.
- Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton
- Ezra Taylor vs Willy Hutchinson
- Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls
- Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli
