Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin

The highly anticipated heavyweight clash between British phenom Moses Itauma and American veteran Jermaine Franklin headlines the "Magnificent 7" card at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. For the 21-year-old Itauma, the primary challenge is proving he can handle a "durable, world-class gatekeeper" who has gone the distance with the likes of Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. The objective for Itauma is to utilize his explosive hand speed and southpaw angles to secure a statement victory, potentially becoming the first man to stop Franklin in his professional career. Strategically, Franklin’s goal is to drag the young knockout artist into deep water. Itauma has rarely been pushed past the opening rounds—highlighted by his 2025 first-round demolition of Dillian Whyte—and Franklin aims to use his experience and 149 rounds of professional seasoning to test Itauma's gas tank and composure. The bout, originally scheduled for January but postponed due to an Itauma bicep injury, now serves as the "final piece of the puzzle" for Itauma before he potentially moves toward a world title shot later this year.