Moses Itauma will return shortly in an upcoming fight against Jermaine Franklin, and looking ahead to that fight and what’s to come, his promoter Frank Warren speaks about this matchup and how he’d love to position Itauma for a title fight before the year is out, and also touches a bit on Tyson Fury’s upcoming return.
Warren on Itauma and his upcoming fight with Franklin
“I can honestly say at this stage of his career and the age he’s at, he’s the most impressive heavyweight I’ve ever been involved with. And that’s at this stage, and on Saturday he’s in with a guy
who’s very, very experienced…He’s never been stopped. So this is a big, big moment for him. This guy is very, very experienced, this is Moses’ 14th fight. So I think it will tell a lot about him.”
On what Franklin will bring to the fight with Itauma
“It’s a fight that we sort of made it for a reason, because we’re looking for someone who’s going to test [Itauma] and is durable. All big punchers, eventually they’ll fight someone who they won’t stop and they got to go to Plan B. I believe Moses is a very, very good boxer and got a good boxing brain. And if he doesn’t do the business and stop him then we’re going to see the other side of him I hope.”
On who Itauma would fight next with a win
“I can’t really say until this fight is over where we go, but in an ideal world I would like to see him fighting for a world title by the end of the year.”
On Tyson Fury coming back and his fallout with his father
“Well, I never asked him to come back or encouraged him in any way because that’s got to be his decision. He’s a very wealthy guy, financially he’s set up for life and probably 10 lives over. But he wants to fight and he’s in the gym and he’s in tremendous shape and that’s his decision.
“Understand where his family’s coming from, where his dad’s coming from, however it’s Tyson’s decision and if he’s going to come back — fighting in a couple of weeks time — I’d rather he does it now than sits around for four or five years, his powers won’t be the same. He’s not got a lot of miles on the clock and we will see. I think what upsets John is the training. And I’ve got to be honest, and I mean this with the greatest respect ‘cause I don’t get involved in family matters but it’s not the sort of thing you should be having a couple of weeks before a fight.”
