Summary
Moses Itauma became the first man to stop Jermaine Franklin with a fifth round knockout at the Co-op Live.
The 21-year-old remained on course for a heavyweight world title shot by retaining his WBO Intercontinental strap and takes his unbeaten record to 14-0.
Itauma is the number one contender to both Oleksandr Usyk [WBA] and Fabio Wardley [WBO].
Warren reveals Itauma next fight date
Promoter Frank Warren revealed that Itauma is likely to return in July and is confident he’ll fight for a maiden heavyweight world title.
“He’ll be out again probably in July.
“It will be a big, big fight.
“I’m very confident he’ll fight for the world title this year.”
Itauma cools Usyk talk
Itauma didn’t call out Oleksandr Usyk’s name after stopping Franklin.
“I wanted the Hrgovic fight.”
“We’ll see who’s available and I’ll be back out soon.”
Itauma KNOCKS OUT Franklin in the fifth!!!
What a shot from Moses Itauma. He absolutely lays Franklin flat on his face with an uppercut.
Itauma does what Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte couldn’t by knocking out Franklin.
Wow!
A CHILLING ITAUMA KO ENDS IT! 🥶#ItaumaFranklin | Live NOW on DAZN ▪️ pic.twitter.com/qKfQk9s9p1
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 28, 2026
Itauma vs Franklin – Round 4
Despite being knocked down in the previous round, Franklin regains his composure and he’s really making Itauma think in there.
The Brit may just have taken that round, but that was Franklin’s best round so far.
Scorecard: Itauma 40-35 Franklin
Itauma vs Franklin – Round 3
Big round for Itauma, just as it looked like Franklin was starting to get comfortable.
A right hook on the top of the head drops the American.
The ‘989 Assassin’ rose to his feet and made it through the round.
Scorecard: Itauma 30-26 Franklin
Itauma drops Franklin in the third round!
Itauma vs Franklin – Round 2
Itauma’s speed and accuracy is frightening. Franklin eats a left hand and sticks his tongue out, but he definitely felt it.
The visitor is having to fight fire-with-fire at times, but it’s a dangerous game he’s playing with someone as lethal as Itauma.
Scorecard: Itauma 20-18 Franklin
Itauma vs Franklin – Round 1
Rapid start from Itauma. He caught Franklin with at least two short right hands.
Franklin was hurt right at the end of the round, but just about manages to compose himself and stands firm under the pressure.
This may not go much longer.
Scorecard: Itauma 10-9 Franklin
Moses x Meekz
Manchester rap artist Meekz walks out Itauma.
Both men are in the ring and ready to go!
Itauma time!!
Main event is coming up next. Can Jermaine Franklin cause a huge upset and hand Moses Itauma a first professional defeat or will the precocious heavyweight talent see off another solid contender?
We’re about to find out a lot of answers.
Heaney says he’ll continue
“I was thinking to myself I was winning these rounds.
“I’m absolutely gutted.
“We’ve had an amazing journey.
“We’ll have one more fight in Stoke and see what happens after.”
Warburton Wins It!!
The right result and the biggest win of his professional career.
Gerome Warburton takes it by unanimous decision – 98-92, 97-93×2
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 10
Warburton stays out of trouble on the outside in the final round and Heaney just couldn’t pin him down once again.
Warburton seems the more confident of the two and on our scorecard he’s done more than enough to win this.
Scorecard: Heaney 93-97 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 9
Better round from Heaney. He let his hands go slightly more than he has been doing for the last few rounds and had some success.
He did get tagged by Warburton on a few occasions, but may just have done enough to edge it.
Heaney surely needs a knockout in the final round to win this.
Scorecard: Heaney 84-87 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 8
Heaney’s faithful have been subdued by Warburton’s superior boxing ability.
Warburton opted to trade in the opening minute of the round, enabling Heaney to have a bit more success, but as soon as he reverted to the back foot, Heaney had no answers.
Scorecard: Heaney 74-78 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 7
Warburton causing Heaney all sorts of problems and the Stoke man is barely throwing.
He’s getting picked out relatively comfortably and is in desperate need of a second wind.
Scorecard: Heaney 65-68 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 6
Heaney looked fatigued in the sixth round, almost chasing Warburton around the ring, who continues to box on the back foot.
Warburton got the best of the action and banks another round.
Scorecard: Heaney 56-58 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 5
Heaney’s face is a bloody mess. Blood streaming from his nose.
He lands at least two pinpoint right hands.
May have been enough for him to take that round. All to play for here.
Scorecard: Heaney 47-48 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 4
Heaney’s output has definitely slowed down slightly, but he is still finding his rival’s body.
Warburton is finding a way through the 36-year-old’s guard and definitely took that round.
Scorecard: Heaney 37-39 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 3
Warburton outboxes Heaney in the third round and lands at least two accurate uppercuts.
Heaney caught Warburton right at the end of the round, but he struggled to really pin the ‘Bread Maker’ down.
Styles are gelling well so far.
Scorecard: Heaney 28-29 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 2
Heaney lands several meaty body shots in the second round.
Warburton is goading him to throw volume and the Stoke favourite is responding.
Scorecard: Heaney 19-19 Warburton
Heaney vs Warburton – Round 1
Heaney marching towards the southpaw Warburton in the opening round.
Warburton boxing well on the outside and has landed a couple of good left hands.
Heaney had some success of his own, but Warburton just edges a tight opener.
Scorecard: Heaney 9-10 Warburton
Chief support up next!
Nathan Heaney looks to keep his dream of headlining Stoke City’s bet365 Stadium alive in a must-win middleweight clash against Gerome Warburton.
The 36-year-old has an army of support behind him, making huge noise inside the Co-op Live, as he walks out to Delilah by Tom Jones.
Warburton is looking to ruin his hopes here in what would be the biggest win of his career.
Undercard results so far
- Willy Hutchinson bt Ezra Taylor – Unanimous Decision
- Brad Pauls bt Shakiel Thompson – 9th round TKO
- Liam Davies bt Francesco Grandelli – 6th round TKO
- Josh Holmes bt Alex Murphy – 1st round TKO
- Michael Gomez Jr bt Jordan Flynn – 3rd round TKO
- Nelson Birchall bt Ryan Griffiths – 9th round TKO
- Aadam Hamed bt Michael Mooney – PTS
- John Joe Carrigan bt Danny Costello – 3rd round TKO
Welcome along to our LIVE coverage of Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin.
Moses Itauma takes a huge step towards a maiden heavyweight world title shot at the Co-op Live in Manchester.
Standing in his way is the teak-tough Franklin, who has only lost twice to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, both on points.
Itauma is undefeated in 13 professional bouts heading into tonight’s clash and stopped the aforementioned Whyte inside a round in August.
Franklin has won three on the bounce since defeat to Whyte, overcoming Ivan Dychko by unanimous decision in September.
