<p><em>Training injury forces Britain's unbeaten heavyweight prospect to delay his toughest test yet against the durable American veteran.</em></p> <p>The heavyweight boxing world woke up to disappointing news this morning: Moses Itauma, Britain's most electrifying young prospect, has sustained a training injury that forced the postponement of his highly anticipated clash with American veteran Jermaine Franklin.</p> <p>The fight, originally scheduled for January 24 at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena, has been pushed back to March 28.</p> <p>For a 21-year-old in a hurry to rewrite boxing history, two months probably feels like an eternity. Itauma's camp confirmed the setback through Queensberry Promotions, though details about the nature of the injury remain conspicuously vague.</p> <p>The entire "Magnificent 7" card has been rescheduled, leaving fans who'd already made travel plans scrambling to adjust.</p> <h2>The Wunderkind's Meteoric Rise</h2> <p>Itauma's trajectory has been nothing short of extraordinary. With an unbeaten professional record of 13 wins and 11 knockouts, he hasn't seen the third round since his fourth professional bout. That's the kind of destructive efficiency that makes promoters salivate and opponents nervous.</p> <p>Born in Slovakia and raised in Britain, Itauma turned professional after dominating the amateur scene with around 24 wins.</p> <p>He captured gold medals at every level: schools, juniors, youth Europeans, and the heavyweight youth world championships. The transition to professional ranks seemed almost effortless, really.</p> <p>At 6-foot-4 and just 21 years old, Itauma represents something rare in modern heavyweight boxing: a genuinely young champion-in-waiting. Mike Tyson's record as boxing's youngest heavyweight titleholder remains safe for now, but Itauma clearly has designs on chasing other historic achievements in the division.</p> <h2>Franklin: The Gatekeeper Test</h2> <p>The postponed bout with Franklin represents a significant step up in competition. The 32-year-old American from Saginaw, Michigan, brings a 24-2 record with 15 knockouts and something more valuable: experience against elite opposition. Franklin went the distance with <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/ufc/fighter-profiles/anthony-joshua">Anthony Joshua</a> in April 2023, losing a unanimous decision but earning respect for his durability and ring craft.</p> <p>Franklin apparently sees this fight as his chance to derail the hype train. He's been vocal on social media, insisting he's not a stepping stone but rather a legitimate threat to expose Itauma's inexperience. The American's Instagram posts suggest a fighter tired of being cast as the opponent rather than the protagonist in these narratives.</p> <h2>The Pressure of Prodigy Status</h2> <p>Being boxing's next big thing comes with crushing expectations. ESPN recently ranked Itauma first on their list of top 25 fighters under 25, ahead of established names with longer resumes. British boxing fans, desperate for the next heavyweight star after decades of near-misses and what-ifs, have placed enormous hope on his young shoulders.</p> <p>Industry observers have begun whispering about potential matchups with titleholders, despite Itauma's relative inexperience. Some question whether he's being rushed, pushed too fast toward championship-level opposition before he's truly ready. The injury, ironically, might provide an unintended benefit: more time to develop, heal, and prepare properly.</p> <h2>March 28: A New Target Date</h2> <p>Assuming the injury heals properly and no further setbacks occur, March 28 will finally answer questions that January couldn't. Can Itauma handle a crafty veteran who's already tested himself against Joshua?</p> <p>Does his devastating power translate against seasoned opposition who won't crumble from early pressure? Fans looking to follow the action can check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/boxing">boxing betting odds</a> as the rescheduled date approaches.</p> <p>The two-month delay might actually work in Itauma's favor if used wisely. More time to study Franklin's defensive patterns, more rounds in sparring, more opportunity to sharpen tools that could determine championship destiny.</p> <p>Or it could simply be lost time, a frustrating interruption in what's been an otherwise seamless professional journey.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-boxing">Everything you need to know before betting on boxing</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/fastest-knockouts-boxing-history">The fights that ended before they even started</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/boxing/news/boxing-weight-classes-guide">From flyweight to heavyweight — every division explained</a></li> </ul>