Reigning WBA champion worried about potential loss to Itauma at hands of Franklin

Murat Gassiev, the WBA regular heavyweight champion, is not dismissing the possibility of an upset when Moses Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin in Manchester on Saturday, acknowledging the heavyweight division's propensity for surprises.

Gassiev, who holds a secondary WBA title, is ranked directly above Itauma in the WBA ratings, making a potential fight between the two a possibility if Itauma emerges unscathed from his bout against Franklin.

In a conversation with Sky Sports, Gassiev expressed uncertainty about a potential clash with Itauma, stating "I don't know, maybe" and emphasizing that the outcome of Itauma's fight against Franklin would determine what's next.

Gassiev cautioned against underestimating Franklin, noting that the heavyweight division is characterized by powerful fighters and unpredictable outcomes, making it difficult to predict the winner.

Itauma, one of the most hyped prospects in world boxing, will enter the bout with a strong track record, having turned professional in January 2023 and amassed 13 unbeaten fights, including 11 stoppages, with nine of them occurring within the first two rounds.

His most notable victory to date was against former world title challenger Dillian Whyte in August 2025, when he claimed the Commonwealth heavyweight title in Riyadh with a single-round dismantling of his opponent.

Itauma is currently ranked as the WBO's number one contender and has been recognized as The Ring magazine's 2024 Prospect of the Year, with promoter Frank Warren predicting that he can challenge for a world title before the end of 2026.

Francis Warren, Frank Warren's son, has drawn comparisons between Itauma and sporting legends Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods, suggesting that the young boxer will go down as one of the greatest in sports history.