Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin live results update

On March 28, at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin headlines a Queensberry Promotions fight card, live on DAZN. The main event will be a 10-round heavyweight contest.

Itauma has dominated every opponent he’s faced, including his one-round destruction of Dillian Whyte in his last fight. Franklin recorded his best win on paper last time out, defeating Ivan Dychko by unanimous decision.

We’ll bring you all the results from the Itauma vs Franklin main fight card. The first fight will begin at approximately 17:10 GMT/13:10 ET.

All results from Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin on March 28

Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin

After an entertaining undercard, it was time for Moses Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) vs Jermaine Franklin (24-3, 15 KOs) for the WBA international & WBO inter-continental heavyweight titles.

It was a torrid opening round for Franklin as Itauma showcased his blistering hand speed and impressive accuracy throughout the first three minutes. Itauma finished the second round strongly, landing eye-catching hooks.

At the end of the third round, Itauma landed a right hook, which caught the American high on the temple and knocked him down. He made it to his feet and survived the round. Franklin had his best moment of the fight in the fourth to that point, landing two body shots, which Itauma took well.

The domination continued again in the fifth round, when Itauma landed a massive left uppercut that left Franklin falling to the canvas. Just to make sure, Itauma landed a right hand to finish the job, leaving referee Steve Gray no opportunity but to wave the fight off. Itauma wins by fifth-round TKO and becomes the first man to stop Franklin.

Nathan Heaney vs Gerome Warburton

Next up, it was time for the big ticket seller, Nathan Heaney (19-2-1, 6 KOs) against Gerome Warburton (17-2-2, 2 KOs) for the vacant WBA continental middleweight title.

It was a positive, yet disciplined start from Heaney, who picked his shots well during the opening three minutes and established his jab. Warburton landed some smart combinations in the second round, but Heaney remained the busier.

Heaney landed the last significant punch in the third round, but the more eye-catching work came from Warburton. The pressure continued to come from Heaney, despite the good work from Warburton. The Welshman enjoyed a good fourth round, putting his shots together impressively and working well off his jab.

Despite the constant pressure from Heaney, Warburton continued to move well and pick his punches impressively. In round seven, the “Bread Maker” looked in a good groove, moving and firing off combinations. The Stoke fighter continued to apply pressure in the last two rounds, with Warburton staying mobile and picking his shots. Before the scorecards were ready, the smarter work of Warburton had him in front on my card. The fight went to the scorecards, which read 98-92, and 97-93 x2 all in favour of Warburton, who becomes the WBA continental middleweight champion. The right man had his hand raised!

Willie Hutchinson vs Ezra Taylor

Next up on the Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin undercard was, to many, the most anticipated fight of the whole card, with Willie Hutchinson (20-2, 14 KOs) vs Ezra Taylor (13-1, 9 KOs) for the WBA continental and vacant WBO global light heavyweight title.

The opening round was tightly contested, but Hutchinson seemed to land the cleaner shots. After some smart work from Hutchinson in the second round, Taylor landed a sharp right hand, which the Scottish fighter took well.

Hutchinson showed slick movement and punch variety in the third round, showing his excellent amateur pedigree. Taylor controlled the distance more effectively in the fourth round, closing Hutchinson down, applying more pressure. At the halfway point, Taylor was having success, but the more eye-catching work came from the Scotsman.

“The Hutch Train” continued to move well and control the distance, as he had done effectively since the beginning of the fight. As the fight progressed, the movement and punch accuracy of Hutchinson continued to help him pick up the rounds.

During the final round, Taylor was unable to trouble the Scot, who stayed mobile, moved and picked his shots impressively. It was no surprise to hear a unanimous decision verdict from the judges, with scorecards of 99-91, and 98-92 x2, making Hutchinson the new WBA continental and WBO global light heavyweight champion. It wasn’t a great fight, but the Scottish fighter executed the perfect game plan.

Shakiel Thompson vs Brad Pauls

It was the middleweight division up next, with the dangerous Shakiel Thompson (15-1, 11 KOs) vs Brad Pauls (21-2-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant IBF international middleweight title.

Thompson started well and controlled the distance and tempo with his lead hand, while Pauls seemed content to take his time. Pauls made some changes in the second round, closing the distance well and countering nicely.

Pauls enjoyed a good third round, before Thompson landed a heavy-looking body shot near the end of the round, which backed “The Newquay Bomb” up. Thompson looked on top in the fourth as he landed some eye-catching straight lefts.

Despite Pauls having success with single shots, Thompson began to get on top as the fight entered the second half. “Dr Steel” continued to go through the gears and land the more eye-catching shots. Pauls showed bravery, but the effective awkwardness of Thompson helped him control the distance. 

Despite being outboxed by Thompson, Pauls started the ninth round quickly and looked to let his hands go more, and landed a big right hand, leaving Thompson on unsteady legs, and he was soon on the canvas.

Thompson beat the count, but Pauls pounced and continued to hurt Thompson and not let him recover, and landed another right hand, knocking “Dr Steel” down again, forcing the referee to intervene and wave the fight off, awarding “The Newquay Bomb” the vacant IBF international middleweight title. What a comeback from Pauls!

Liam Davies vs Francesco Grandelli

Next up on the undercard was Liam Davies (18-1, 9 KOs) vs Francesco Grandelli (21-5-2, 6 KOs) for the vacant EBU European & WBO Intercontinental featherweight titles.

Davies started well on the front foot and mixed his shots impressively. His jab and hand speed stood out in the opening three minutes and helped him push Grandelli onto the back foot. The slick footwork and fast hands from Davies helped him control the distance and tempo in the second round.

The fourth round saw Davies land a peach of a left hook, knocking the Italian fighter down, who did well to get to his feet and make it to the end of the round. Grandelli showed heart and tried to punch between Davies, but the speed of the Telford fighter’s punches continued to catch the eye.

At the end of round six, Grandelli’s team rightfully pulled their fighter out, who was taking a systematic beating from Davies, who looks like a dangerous fighter at featherweight and is now the new EBU European & WBO Intercontinental featherweight champion.

Josh Holmes vs Alex Murphy

Next up on the Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin undercard was Josh Holmes (18-0, 7 KOs) vs Alex Murphy (14-3, 0 KOs) for the vacant Commonwealth silver lightweight title.

It was a fairly quiet start to the first round before Murphy caught Holmes and had him on unsteady legs, but Holmes quickly recovered and landed a big right hand of his own. He quickly followed up with a huge left that floored Murphy, who did well to just beat the count. 

Holmes quickly smelled blood and landed another big right hand to knock Murphy down, who was unable to beat the count, crowning Holmes the new Commonwealth silver lightweight champion.

Michael Gomez Jr vs Jordan Flynn

In the opening fight of the night, it was Michael Gomez Jr (22-2, 7 KOs) vs Jordan Flynn (13-2-1, 2 KOs) in the lightweight division.

It was a bright opening round from Gomez, who applied the pressure and landed some eye-catching body shots. Flynn got his work off much more effectively in the second round, but had to work hard for what he did get, while Gomez kept coming forward, applying pressure.

The third round saw Gomez continue to apply the pressure, and he soon caught Flynn with a big uppercut, which had Flynn in all sorts of trouble. The 29-year-old showed great heart and tried to fire back, but more heavy punches followed, leading the referee to step in and wave the fight off, awarding Gomez Jr the third-round TKO victory.