Simon Jordan and boxing’s biggest names predict Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin

Jermaine Franklin faces an uphill battle against Moses Itauma.

The American opens up as a massive 14/1 underdog with the bookies ahead of their heavyweight clash on Saturday night at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena.

Itauma’s handlers are viewing his next assignment as an opportunity to get some rounds in before stepping up in class.

The Chatham southpaw has only banked 26 rounds in 13 fights and hasn’t been extended beyond two rounds in just under three years.

Franklin is noted for his durability, having taken both Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua the distance in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

The narrative around the fight is therefore focused on whether Franklin can take Itauma into deep waters rather than the possibility of him upsetting the apple cart.

But make no mistake about it, the ‘989 Assassin’ is coming to win.

Who is backing Moses Itauma to win?

Simon Jordan – talkSPORT pundit

“I think he is going to get knocked out,” Jordan said on air during an interview with Franklin.

“And by the way, saying someone is going to get knocked out is not meant to be disrespectful.

“I’m not disrespecting Jermaine, I’m just looking at the fight, looking at Moses Itauma and looking at what I have seen from Jermaine.

“I don’t think he has been in with someone as quick and as fast as [Moses].

“Going in with Joshua and Whyte at that stage in their career isn’t the same as Moses.”

George Groves – Former super middleweight world champion

“I don’t think he [Franklin] will be able to present any challenges,” Groves told PressInsights.

“I think Itauma is too sharp, but Franklin is durable, so he will hope to take him into deep waters and see what Itauma’s conditioning is like.”

Sal Jobe – Jermaine Franklin’s ex-manager

“I’m going with a Moses stoppage,” Jobe told talkSPORT.com.

“I believe personally, Moses will do it inside the first round to prove a point again.

“But he’s going to play the game with Franklin and allow Franklin to make him think he is going to get rounds out of him and that he can sit for a bit and warm into the fight.”

Lawrence Okolie – Former cruiserweight and bridgerweight world champion

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“I think Moses wins that fight,” Okolie told the Queensberry Promotions social media team.

“He’s just a bit too sharp, a bit too well put together.

“So I think he is going to find some good shots early and get the stoppage.”

Sunny Edwards – Former super flyweight world champion

“Yeah I think he’ll take him to pieces,” Edwards told talkSPORT.

“I think he’ll go through Franklin in a matter of rounds and do what Joshua didn’t.

“Just like he did with Dillian Whyte no-one else went through him in like 30/40 seconds like he did.

“He’s got that freshness of a young fighter who is very skilled. He’s physically very strong.

“When you’ve been boxing that long, he has got a brilliant understanding of his body and movement like Oleksandr Usyk.

“He is so good, so calculated and his shot selection is fantastic.”

Dave Allen – Heavyweight boxer

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“As far as top-level heavyweight boxing goes, Franklin isn’t a puncher, but he’s super, super tough, and more than that, super clever, really good fighter,” said Allen.

“His last fight I watched it, I thought he got beat, terrible shape, he looked terrible. If we get that Franklin, I think he’ll get stopped.

“I think Itauma would do something Joshua and Whyte couldn’t do, I think he’d stop him.

“However, it is close to Christmas, so it’s a big if, but if we get an in shape Franklin, I think we’ll get a lot of questions answered.

“We’ll definitely see if Itauma can go the rounds, definitely. Franklin is like me but a lot better and tougher I think. He’s a bit of a survivor, tough, a spoiler, not a puncher, but he’s the very best at it.

“I think Itauma will beat him on points, I think Franklin will take him the distance. I think they will respect Franklin.

“I think Franklin will come in shape but I think Itauma will beat him on points. I think it’s a f***ing brilliant fight. But if Itauma does blow him away, then wow.

“Then we really do have to put him in the conversation for being ready for a Ruiz or a Bakole or whoever.”

Boxing schedule

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