Moses Itauma Stops Jermaine Franklin in Five Rounds with Devastating Finish

Manchester, England, UK - Moses Itauma 14-0 (12 KOs) delivered a statement performance, stopping Jermaine Franklin 22-3 (14 KOs) in the fifth round at the Co-op Live Arena, overwhelming the experienced American with speed, precision, and finishing power.

The stoppage, which came after Franklin was left defenseless and dropped face-first to the canvas, may draw some debate regarding its timing—but the direction of the fight was clear. Itauma had established control early and never allowed Franklin to settle.

Speed and Sharpness from the Start

From the opening bell, Itauma’s speed immediately created problems.

Working from the southpaw stance, he used a sharp, blinding jab to disrupt Franklin’s vision while setting up a steady stream of right hooks and straight left hands. Franklin struggled to read the shots coming at him, and the accuracy from Itauma quickly turned the fight one-sided.

Repeated right hook counters found the target, and a clean left-hand-right hook combination snapped Franklin’s head back. By the closing seconds of the round, Franklin was visibly hurt, with the bell arriving just in time to prevent further damage.

Control Builds Through Round Two

The second round followed a similar pattern, with Itauma increasing his variety while maintaining control.

His jab continued to dominate exchanges, and his work to the body began to slow Franklin’s responses. A series of clean left hands, including a well-timed uppercut, reinforced the growing gap in speed and precision between the two fighters.

Franklin’s durability kept him upright, but he remained largely defensive, unable to mount sustained offense.

Right Hook Drops Franklin in the Third

The fight shifted decisively in the third round.

Itauma’s right hook—his most effective weapon throughout the contest—landed clean and sent Franklin to the canvas with under 30 seconds remaining. Itauma followed with body shots as Franklin rose and attempted to tie up.

Franklin managed to survive the round and even responded with a shot of his own, but the knockdown confirmed Itauma’s growing dominance.

Franklin Shows Resistance in the Fourth

To his credit, Franklin showed determination in the fourth round.

He began to find occasional counters and worked the body with more intent, landing right hands to Itauma’s torso and offering brief moments of resistance. The pace slowed slightly, and for the first time, Itauma was forced to reset and think.

Still, even in a more competitive round, Itauma’s cleaner, sharper work ensured he remained firmly ahead.

Devastating Finish in Round Five

The end came quickly in the fifth.

A powerful right hook landed early, followed by a clean left hand that left Franklin visibly shaken. Sensing the opportunity, Itauma stepped in and delivered a crushing left uppercut on the inside.

Franklin was left standing but unresponsive—effectively out on his feet.

A final right hand sent him crashing face-first to the canvas, prompting the referee to immediately wave off the contest.

It was a brutal and emphatic finish from the 21-year-old.

What It Means

For Itauma, this performance marks a significant step forward.

Stopping a fighter who had previously gone the distance with both Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte signals his arrival as a serious force at the top of the heavyweight division. His speed, composure, and finishing instinct continue to separate him from the typical prospect trajectory.

For Franklin, the loss is a setback but not a complete derailment. His toughness and experience remain, but against a younger, faster opponent, he was unable to establish control or extend the fight into deeper waters where he has historically been most effective.

Itauma set out to do what others could not.

And this time, there was no doubt.