Moses Itauma Calls Out Anthony Joshua After Franklin Knockout

Fresh off his emphatic stoppage victory over Jermaine Franklin, rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma has set his sights on a showdown with Anthony Joshua.

Itauma became the first fighter to halt Franklin, finishing the durable American in five rounds at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena last weekend.

Speaking after the bout, Itauma was direct: ‘If that’s a fight to make, that’s a fight to make.’

The 14-0 prospect, with 12 knockouts, has now positioned himself as a legitimate contender, potentially on course to become the youngest British heavyweight champion in history. His win carries added weight given Franklin had previously gone the distance with both Joshua and Dillian Whyte.

Joshua, however, has endured a turbulent start to 2026. A fatal car crash earlier in the year claimed the lives of close friends, delaying his return to training camp.

Promoter Eddie Hearn is targeting a late summer comeback for the 36-year-old, with July or August penciled in.

While Joshua’s long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury remains the ultimate prize, Itauma’s emergence has added intrigue.

Fury is scheduled to face Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11, while Joshua’s next opponent is yet to be confirmed. Veteran promoter Frank Warren has hailed Itauma as the ‘best heavyweight he’s worked with, bar none,’ and is open to the Joshua fight, though he also sees a potential path toward a world title shot against Oleksandr Usyk later this year.

From a tactical standpoint, a Joshua Vs Itauma bout would pit orthodox against southpaw. Itauma’s ability to control angles with his lead foot and unleash his straight left could trouble Joshua, especially given AJ’s tendency to overreact to body feints in recent fights.

For Joshua, the key would be re-establishing his long-range dominance, using his reach and veteran timing to catch Itauma with a check hook or straight right—similar to the shot that floored Francis Ngannou.