Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin targeted

It's ok I guess. If he demolishes Franklin, it means something.

 

...and if he doesn't, he gets much needed rounds in. Win/win.

 

I’m not a fan of this match up but it’s being overlooked that there is something different about Moses and that is his accuracy, I don’t really see anyone giving him rounds and certainly not Franklin, but I’m pretty sure that the next few fights he has will not be the ones he wants, but the only ones he can get.
This guy isn’t a hype job and the rest of the division is aware of his ability, he might be fairly new to a lot of people but he’s been known to the rest of the division for a while, it’s a case of risk versus reward, I think he actually needs more heavy knockouts more than he needs rounds, he hasn’t yet built up enough of a following to make the big money that would swing the pendulum more towards the reward end of the scale, of his many talents I think his ring iq might be the stand out, his shot selection is ridiculous for someone his age and with his accuracy the opponent doesn’t really matter, the kid actually blocks punches rather than taking them on the gloves, he actually pushes shots away going forward and on the back foot. I personally haven’t seen that from any heavyweight before. I really like the lad but he needs to build his following rather than look for rounds that he won’t get, apparently he’s had a few wars with Parker in sparring

 

DOUBT IT!!

 

Who do you think Itauma should fight next and why?

 

It helps that his last 4 opponents have been 37, 41, 34 and 45. All of them pretty slow to boot. No doubt hes a top talent that most likely will go all the way....but talks of him smashing up the division are premature imo. Lets see him against guys that are not massively outgunned thats not near 40.

 

Agree. I hope Itauma turns out to be the generational sensation he is showing hints of but let's not embarrass ourselves with group premature ejaculation here.

 

If Itauma wins by KO, someone please bump this thread to alert the forum that "Joshua's resume just got destroyed".

 

Have no fear. Some peanut will.

 

I agree with you completely but Turki is pushing to make that fight at somepoint, and he controls boxing in a sense ATM.

Itauma would need to beat at least two other genuine serious contenders eg - Parker, Kabayel, Dubois to prove he could give Usyk a challenge.

 

Turki has influence because of his wealth but he is like a child in a china shop and Itauma's people need to prioritize on doing what's right for his development.

Usyk doesn't seem to want to fight Parker. I don't see him fighting Itauma. Won't happen IMO.

 

He should fight whoever will fight him that is ranked higher or puts him in a better position to fight for a title, I would be surprised if he got a shot at usyk, he has two fights left and I expect that to be the case, he’s a man of his word and I don’t think money would tempt him to extend his career. I think Usyk will fight Parker and then fury for a trilogy in his final fight. I don’t think he will fight itauma, I also don’t think itauma deserves the fight.
I think Kabayel would make sense in that he would position himself as mandatory for the WBC if he was victorious, but it’s a risk that
Kabayel almost certainly won’t take, he will take a keep busy fight and hope he gets a shot at usyk, I think it’s a winnable fight for itauma but he’s doesn’t really have a value for itauma financially.
Hergovics hype is starting to fade and would be an easy win in my opinion, pretty predictable and not a great mover there for the taking, he won’t stay in there long enough for Moses to get rounds in, also won’t bring the money in.
Parker is a great fight and would make decent money but it doesn’t make sense for either fighter right now, he’s next in line for a shot at usyk and I think he will get it, he’s smart enough to realise that and he’s bidding his time and waiting on usyk, if usyk takes an extended break because of his injury then Parker will probably take another fight but probably not as risky as he normally would, I think Parker knows what most of us know is that he’s not an easy night for usyk and he probably fancies his chances, plus he’s earned his spot.
So that brings me to who I think itauma should fight next, and that man is Fabio Wardley, he’s got a bit of hype around him at the moment (totally undeserved imo), he’s got a decent following, he’s English, it could be promoted well and there’s absolutely zero risk for itauma because Wardley is absolutely dog shite, I think the main problem with this fight is where do you put it, I think it might do 40 thousand currently so it’s too big for the o2 and too small for a proper stadium fight.
So for me Wardley is the one that will serve him best if he doesn’t get a fight that puts him in with a title shot.
It’s also worth noting that is not the fight I want to see for him

 

I agree that Usyk won't fight Itauma and that is all the more reason why Itauma should concentrate on getting some rounds in rather than being rushed. The guy is 20 and I don't get why people are trying to rush him unnecessarily. He only has 26 pro rounds to his name for God's sake! Get him prepared for the best and he will probably beat them. Rush him too soon and he probably won't.

 

Franklin is a perfectly acceptable opponent for Itauma at this stage. He’s never been dropped nor stopped. Neither AJ nor Whyte could put a dent in him. If he was good enough to go the full distance with a former unified world champion who had just boxed ATG Usyk twice, he’s a good enough opponent for a 20 year old prospect.

Also there’s the stylistic clash to consider. I see why they’re targeting Franklin: they need Itauma to get more rounds in because he’s winning every fight by KO inside 2 rounds. They’re hoping Franklin’s awkward and crafty enough to make it out of the first 2 rounds.

Perfectly fine matchmaking.

 

He’s not getting any rounds in mate, he’s just built different, his iq is light years ahead of everyone apart from usyk and his movement is the same, the only one who gives him rounds is usyk, iam happy to get pulled up on this in future.
You didn’t ask me who I think he will fight next, so I’m going to say it anyway, I think he will fight an American, miller, Franklin or maybe hunter, actually hunter would be a good choice.