Dillian Whyte weighs in on the upcoming clash between Moses Itauma and Jermaine Franklin, and his take is far from simple.
Moses Itauma, the rising British boxing star, is gearing up for a potentially explosive start to 2026. His goal? To become the first person to stop Jermaine Franklin, a feat that has eluded even seasoned fighters. Itauma has already made a statement this year, swiftly dispatching both Mike Balogun and Dillian Whyte, showcasing his impressive power. Now, he's set to face Franklin on January 24th in Manchester, a fight that has many boxing enthusiasts buzzing with anticipation.
Whyte, who shared the ring with both fighters, offering his insights on IFL TV. He didn't hold back, praising the matchmaking and seemingly backing Itauma to come out on top. He noted, "They're building Moses very good, I wish I had that sort of management and promotion for my career. They’re building him perfectly – the right fights at the right time, spending money and promoting him. His learning resume is amazing.”
When asked if Franklin was chosen to give Itauma the opportunity to do what he and Anthony Joshua couldn't – end the fight early – Whyte offered a different perspective. He stated, “I don’t really think so. I beat Franklin and [Itauma] beat me, so he beat the man that beat the man. It doesn’t make sense. It’s just that they run out of opponents for him and he has to step up to a higher level, because he’s done so well. They have to try and spin this story to make the fight sell.”
He further added, “Jermaine Franklin lost to both me and AJ … He should’ve fought someone else to be honest, but it’s a good fight for him … People want to get paid to fight. I’m sure people will fight him, but when you’re knocking guys out people start pricing themselves out.”
Franklin, on the other hand, is determined to derail Itauma's momentum. If he fails, the 21-year-old Brit could find himself in a world title contention before the year's end.
But here's where it gets controversial... Whyte's assessment brings up an interesting point: Does the narrative of Itauma being the one to do what others couldn't hold any water? Or is it simply a marketing tactic?
And this is the part most people miss... The boxing world is a business, and sometimes, the most exciting fights are made not just for sporting reasons, but also for financial ones.
What do you think? Does Whyte's perspective change your view of the fight? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
