Overview
- The 20-year-old southpaw will top the bill at Co-op Live after being pulled from the Dec. 13 Manchester card.
- Itauma is 13-0 with 11 knockouts and stopped Dillian Whyte in the first round in August.
- Franklin enters at 24-2 with decision losses to Whyte and Anthony Joshua and a September points win over Ivan Dychko.
- The WBA ordered Kubrat Pulev to face Itauma, but Pulev is scheduled to fight Murat Gassiev on Dec. 12 in Dubai, leaving Itauma’s immediate title path unresolved.
- Willy Hutchinson vs Ezra Taylor is set as chief support, with Nathan Heaney, Brad Pauls, Liam Davies and Aqib Fiaz also slated for the Manchester card.