Rising heavyweight contender Moses Itauma has been forced to hit pause on his momentum. Queensberry Promotions confirmed that Itauma’s scheduled fight against Jermaine Franklin has been postponed after the unbeaten British prospect suffered an injury during training camp. As a result, the entire “Magnificent 7” card originally slated for January 24 has been rescheduled for March 28 at the Co-Op Live in Manchester, England.
“Moses Itauma has sustained an injury in camp for his fight with Jermaine Franklin on Jan. 24,” Queensberry said in a statement. “Due to this, the whole Magnificent 7 show has been postponed and moved to the new date of March 28th at the Co-Op Live in Manchester.”
Another Setback in a Stop-Start Year
Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) has endured a frustrating stretch of interruptions over the past year. After dealing with multiple injuries and difficulty securing willing opponents in 2025, Itauma fought just twice though both appearances ended emphatically, with knockout victories over Mike Balogun and former world title challenger Dillian Whyte.
The bout with Jermaine Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) was seen as a crucial step forward. Offering Itauma his most seasoned test to date. Franklin’s resume includes competitive decision losses to elite names such as Anthony Joshua and Whyte the only two defeats of his professional career.
“A Tough Test for Moses”
Prior to the postponement, promoter Frank Warren emphasized the significance of the matchup.
“It certainly could be Moses’ toughest fight,” Warren told ESPN. “Franklin brings durability, has been in with Anthony Joshua one of the hardest punching heavyweights and was not stopped. Against Dillian Whyte, some people thought Franklin won.
“These are his only two losses. Franklin has a lot of self-belief, so yes, a tough test for Moses.”
For Itauma, the fight represented an opportunity to showcase his rapid development against a durable, experienced opponent who has gone the distance with top-tier heavyweights.
Card-Wide Impact
The postponement affects the entire Magnificent 7 event, which featured several anticipated British domestic clashes. Among them was a light heavyweight matchup between Willie Hutchinson and Ezra Taylor. Along with other key bouts designed to spotlight Queensberry’s growing stable.
While the delay is disappointing for fans. The decision ensures Itauma returns at full strength rather than risking long-term damage at such a pivotal stage of his career.
With the card now shifted to March 28, Itauma and Franklin are expected to resume preparations once the injury heals. If the bout goes ahead as planned, it remains a meaningful measuring stick for one of Britain’s most highly touted heavyweight prospects. For now, Itauma’s rise is temporarily on hold but the next chapter is still very much intact.
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
