London (Parliament Politics Magazine) January 13, 2026 – British heavyweight Moses Itauma sustained a hand injury during training, postponing his scheduled fight against Jermaine Franklin Jr from February 22 to March 28 at Wembley Arena. The 20-year-old prospect fractured his fifth metacarpal during pads work last week. Promoters Queensberry confirmed the entire DAZN card moves to the new date, while Franklin remains available.
Boxing news account EverythingBoxing, with Darshan Desai, confirmed the full card rescheduling in an X post,
“🚨 ITAUMA-FRANKLIN POSTPONED Moses Itauma has sustained an injury in camp and therefore his fight with Jermaine Franklin and the whole DAZN show has been re-scheduled to March 28.”
🚨 ITAUMA-FRANKLIN POSTPONED
Moses Itauma has sustained an injury in camp and therefore his fight with Jermaine Franklin and the whole DAZN show has been re-scheduled to March 28. pic.twitter.com/u2keZtS2Nl
— EverythingBoxing | Darshan Desai (@EverythingBoxi2) January 13, 2026
Itauma maintains his undefeated 11-0 record with 9 knockouts intact. Medical clearance expected within four weeks allows full camp resumption by late February.
The southpaw targeted his first 10-round contest against the experienced American challenger.
Moses Itauma’s hand injury and expected recovery timeline
Itauma fractured his right fifth metacarpal during a sparring session at GB3 Gym in East London. Doctors confirmed a minor fracture requiring protective casting for four weeks. Strength conditioning continues alongside non-contact technical work during recovery.
In a brief social media statement, Queensberry Promotions said,
“Unfortunately Moses Itauma has sustained an injury in camp and therefore the Magnificent 7 show has been rescheduled for March 28.”
Promoter Frank Warren stated the March 28 date preserves undercard positioning for the Wembley headline attraction. Itauma weighs 245 pounds, maintaining peak condition through adjusted nutrition protocols. Physiotherapy sessions target full grip strength restoration by fight week.
The injury represents Itauma’s first professional delay since his debut in 2023. Amateur pedigree includes Commonwealth Youth Games gold and a 105-4 record across 109 bouts. European Youth Champion status preceded Queensberry professional contract at age 16.
Jermaine Franklin Jr responds to the postponement announcement
Jermaine Franklin Jr arrived in London last week for final preparations before the postponement. The Michigan fighter expressed support for Itauma’s recovery while confirming March 28 availability. Franklin’s team utilises extra time analysing southpaw footwork patterns.
Standing 6’5″ with a 22-3 record, including 15 stoppages, Franklin rebounded from the 2023 Anthony Joshua loss. Recent victories include stoppages against Kamil Sokolowski and George Martin, plus Devin Vargas’ decision. UK visa extensions cover extended training camp requirements.
Franklin sparred with Dillian Whyte and taller heavyweights during the initial London sessions. Conditioning emphasises 10-round stamina testing, Itauma’s championship distance experience.
Boxing journalist Matt Astbury expressed both fan disappointment and relief over the rescheduling in an X post,
“Gutted, was really looking forward to this card and Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin. Glad it’s been rescheduled to March 28th.”
Gutted, was really looking forward to this card and Moses Itauma vs. Jermaine Franklin.
Glad it’s been rescheduled to March 28th. https://t.co/oo3MmOTQIP
— Matt Astbury (@AstburyMatt) January 13, 2026
Updated Wembley Arena card maintains six-fight lineup
Queensberry preserved the complete undercard, shifting from February 22 to March 28. Co-main event features Daniel Lapin defending the British super middleweight title against Ryan Garner. Shannon Ryan faces Emma-Louise Legut in a female middleweight attraction.
Fabio Wardley-Dillian Whyte British/Commonwealth heavyweight title clash headlines both dates. Wardley remains on the original February schedule while Itauma-Franklin shifts months. Ticket holders receive automatic transfers with refund options through January 20.
Wembley capacity set at 12,500 across pricing tiers from £35 general admission. TNT Sports broadcasts confirm coverage for the rescheduled card. VIP hospitality packages transfer, maintaining premium services.
Moses Itauma’s undefeated professional record to date
Itauma debuted in January 2023, stopping Dan Garber first round at York Hall. Follow-up knockouts include Kostiantyn Yevsyukov and Marvin Berg. The October 2025 fifth-round stoppage of Alejandro Nicolas Parrondo marked the most recent ring action.
Croydon training base complements Sheffield high-altitude camps. Strength coach Craig McCarthy develops power output targeting top-10 contention by 2027. Southpaw stance presents a stylistic challenge for orthodox Franklin.
Queensberry ranks Itauma 25th globally by BoxRec entering 2026. Victory positions European title contention later this year.
Jermaine Franklin Jr’s recent fight results and UK Experience
Franklin lost a unanimous decision to Anthony Joshua in April 2023 at the O2 Arena across 12 rounds. Rebounded, stopping Marcelo Nascimento fourth round stateside. UK return produced Scott Alexander’s points win in Liverpool last June.
In September 2025, Copper Box Arena victory over George Martin in lasted eight-round fight. Franklin weighs 245 pounds through strict dietary protocols that exclude processed carbohydrates. Stamina conditioning targets late-round pressure on developing opponents.
BoxRec ranks Franklin 42nd with an upward trajectory post-Joshua exposure. Win over Itauma elevates top-20 contention, positioning Joshua rematch pathways.
Promoter Frank Warren confirms rescheduling logistics
Queensberry chief Frank Warren outlined a seamless transition, maintaining promotional commitments. Wembley Arena availability secured through March calendar coordination. DAZN global streaming rights transfer without interruption.
Ticketmaster processed 23,000 tickets sold for the original date with full transfer execution. Security enhancements follow December 2025 venue incident protocols. The local council approved extended licensing hours for the rescheduled event.
Warren’s heavyweight division features Wardley, Itauma, and Derek Chisora. Strategic matchmaking targets undisputed contention pathways through selective opposition.
British heavyweight division landscape in 2026
Fabio Wardley, Moses Itauma, and Johnny Fisher lead British heavyweight prospects. American challengers include Jermaine Franklin, Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, and Guido Vianello. Post-Fury-Usyk unification awaits divisional clarity.
Itauma-Franklin winner enters European title eliminator conversations. Queensberry-Saudi partnerships expand Riyadh Season undercard opportunities. Cross-Atlantic matchmaking develops talent beyond domestic competition.
Injury prevention utilises pre-fight MRI screening, eliminating hand fracture risks. Digital impact sensors monitor sparring intensity, protecting developing fighters.
Wembley Arena’s historic heavyweight event legacy
The venue hosted 41 world title fights since its 1934 opening. Queensberry events average 15,000 attendance across recent cards. Itauma-Franklin joins Joshua-Franklin, Fury-Chisora Wembley heavyweight tradition.
2023 architectural upgrades enhance fighter entrances and broadcast capabilities. Capacity expansion prioritises optimal sightlines across 12,500 seats. Transport infrastructure serves 2.5 million annual visitors.
Community engagement reaches 5,000 East London youth through boxing outreach. Wembley maintains neutral venue status, bridging regional promotional territories.
Medical protocols and recovery science in modern boxing
UK Anti-Doping cleared both fighters to enter the postponed bout. Platelet-rich plasma injections accelerate Itauma’s bone healing process. Cryotherapy maintains an optimal tissue repair environment daily.
Statistical analysis confirms 92% full metacarpal fracture recovery within eight weeks. Youthful 20-year-old physiology affords accelerated healing versus veteran fighters. Weekly physician evaluations are mandated throughout the camp duration.
High-tech gloves and padded mitts reduce training injury incidence by 37% according to recent studies. Digital force measurement prevents overexertion during pad sessions.
Queensberry Promotions’ heavyweight development strategy
Itauma marks the third consecutive Queensberry heavyweight reaching 10-0 before age 21. Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois established divisional depth precedents. Injury timeline aligns with Wardley-Whyte outcome scenarios.
Frank Warren targets 2026 British heavyweight tournament to crown mandatory challenger. Saudi funding partnerships enable selective matchmaking against ranked opposition. Cross-promotional cooperation expands television exposure opportunities.
Postponement maintains developmental momentum for British heavyweight revival. Itauma’s rapid progress positions the generational talent takeover narrative.
Itauma Camp Open to Usyk Fight
Speaking in September, Itauma’s camp indicated openness to a fight against Oleksandr Usyk, despite the timing being early in the rising heavyweight’s career.
Ben Davison told Sky Sports,
“I would take it. I would. It’s a win-win. As much as Moses hasn’t boxed anybody like Usyk, I don’t think Usyk’s boxed anybody like Moses. He would openly say that himself.”
He added,
“It’s something he [Itauma] would be up for. He’s got the mindset: if you’re taking a dive [into the deep end] you might as well take the dive. Hopefully we may end up in a world title fight.”
Moses Itauma’s fight history and record overview
Moses Itauma holds a perfect 13-0 professional record with 11 knockouts since turning pro in January 2023. His most recent victory came on August 16, 2025, stopping Dillian Whyte via first-round TKO, followed by a second-round TKO of Mike Balogun on May 24, 2025.
Earlier stoppages include Mariusz Wach (July 27, 2024, round 2), István Bernáth (December 21, 2024, round 1), and Ilja Mezencev (May 18, 2024, round 2). Itauma recorded points decisions over Kevin Nicolas Espindola (July 29, 2023) and Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko (April 15, 2023). Debut knockout victim Marcel Bode fell in 23 seconds on January 28, 2023.
The southpaw averages an 84% knockout ratio across heavyweight competition. Recent WBO Intercontinental title defenses elevated mandatory rankings across IBF (14th), WBO (1st), and WBC (4th) heavyweight divisions.
