Moses Itauma is back in action tonight as he fights Jermaine Franklin in a heavyweight headline act on Frank Warren’s delayed Magnificent 7 card in Manchester.
It is seven months since we last saw the rising British star in action, when he demolished Dillian Whyte in less than two minutes in another vicious early knockout to follow similarly destructive performances against the likes of Mike Balogun, Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach.
Now recovered from an arm injury that forced the initial postponement of this show in January, Itauma is looking to make the biggest statement of his career so far against what on paper is his toughest test, one he sees as the final piece of the puzzle before pursuing world title opportunities.
Franklin has never scaled the heights of boxing’s glamour division but is a tough and durable customer who gave Whyte plenty of trouble before dropping a close decision back in 2022 and was then beaten but not stopped by Anthony Joshua.
Ezra Taylor and Willy Hutchinson clash in a light-heavyweight scrap on a packed bill that also includes Nathan Heaney, Shakiel Thompson, Brad Pauls, Liam Davies and Prince Naseem’s son Aadam Hamed.
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Pauls has won it, and in some style, as he knocks out Thompson.
The referee waves it off at the second knockdown, with Pauls a mile behind on the scorecards.
A good eighth from Pauls with a number of decent hooks and jabs, but all the power punches are coming from the gloves of Thompson.
Pauls looks almost done.
Pauls is bruised up around the eyes as he endures another tough round.
Thompson is on top here.
A real scrap in the sixth as both men look to assert themselves in the eyes of the judges.
Not much to split them there.
Thompson is looking huge in there and trying to assert his physical dominance.
He’s been able to pop off some good shots, getting his jab going again.
He’s very much on top here.
Again, more good work from both men, with Thompson continuing to just shade the rounds, planting his feet and looking to find Pauls’ body.
Another even round that Thompson edges just before the bell, with a good right hook that does some late damage to Pauls, sending him back towards the neutral corner.
Thompson is looking to unload his power as he bounces in and out of range in that southpaw stance.
He has been caught a couple of times by Pauls, who is beginning to get that right hand into play.
A relaxed Thompson takes the opening round after plenty of feeling each other out.
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Source: This article was originally published by Evening Standard
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