Itauma’s Uppercut Finally Cracked Franklin’s Resistance
Moses Itauma stopped Jermaine Franklin at 1:33 of round five on March 28, 2026, at Co-op Live in Manchester. The British heavyweight became the first boxer to finish Franklin after building his advantage through speed, feints and increasingly accurate combinations.
The matchup and early action
Franklin had previously taken Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte the distance. His durability made the American an appealing test for a prospect whose recent opponents had often been overwhelmed before many rounds could develop.
Itauma established his southpaw jab and lead right hook early. Rather than relying only on single punches, he accelerated into combinations when openings appeared and gradually brought his left hand into the exchanges.
The decisive developments
A right hook dropped Franklin near the end of round three, marking the first knockdown of the American’s professional career. Franklin recovered and completed the fourth, giving Itauma more ring time than his recent assignments.
The decisive attack came in the fifth when a left uppercut caught Franklin moving into a clinch. Itauma followed with a right hand, and referee Steve Gray waved the fight off after Franklin went down.
What the result meant
The result extended Itauma’s sequence to ten consecutive stoppages. It also provided valuable rounds without changing the one-sided direction of the contest.
Franklin’s resistance answered the immediate question of whether Itauma could remain patient beyond the early rounds. The young heavyweight continued selecting his opportunities until the uppercut created a conclusive finish against an opponent known for surviving major punchers.
