Main Event
Heavyweight Moses Itauma
Heavyweight Jermaine Franklin JR
Moses Itaumavs Jermaine Franklin Jr
Frank Warren is marking his 45 years as a licensed British boxing promoter by bringing the highly acclaimed Magnificent 7 series back to Manchester.
The Magnificent 7, headlined by a heavyweight showdown between Moses Itauma and Jermain Franklin, will hit the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester on Saturday, January 24, live and exclusive on DAZN, with ticket Information for the show to be released shortly.
World champion-in-waiting Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) is just 20 years old and will have his 14th professional fight against the accomplished American, following on from his first-round destruction of Dillian Whyte last time out.
Franklyn (24-2, 15), 32, from Michigan, comes into the fight off the back of three straight wins with his only career setbacks coming in the UK against Whyte and Anthony Joshua, both by decision.
The chief support is a domestic light heavyweight cracker, which sees Willy Hutchinson (19-2, 14) and Ezra Taylor (13-0, 9) go into battle. Hutchinson will come into the fight fresh from a hugely impressive showing against Mark Jeffers in October, while Taylor accounted for Steed Woodall, with both fighters inflicting stoppage defeats on their opponents.
There is also an all-British featherweight collision for the fans with British and Commonwealth champion Zak Miller (17-1, 3) going up against Liam Davies (17-1, 8). Telford Davies was previously the IBO world, British and European champion at super bantamweight, along with holding the WBC and WBO International titles.
The WBO Global middleweight champion Shakiel Thompson (15-0, 11) will face former British champion Brad Pauls (20-2-1, 11). Thompson from Sheffield, a recent Queensberry recruit, won the belt with a defeat of River Wilson-Bent in late 2024.
Also, at 160lbs, Stoke hero Nathan Heaney (19-1-1, 6) is back in the ring, no doubt supported by his army of fans from the Potteries, taking on the Welsh southpaw Gerome Warburton (16-2-2, 2). Then, at lightweight, Alex Murphy (14-2) goes up against the English champion Josh Holmes (17-0, 6) while another lightweight clash sees Aqib Fiaz (14-1, 2) take on Jordan Flynn (12-1-1, 2).
“We are thrilled to be delivering such a strong Magnificent 7 bounty for the fans in our first UK show of 2026;” said promoter Frank Warren, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.” It is a statement of intent for the New Year and a sign of things to come.
“We are delighted with what we have put together across 2025 in tandem with our new broadcast partner DAZN, but we have the scope to go bigger and further in 2026, which we will do and make it a landmark year for the sport.
“This show will also effectively celebrate my 45th year in the professional business and I believe this card certainly does justice to the occasion and I am very happy to have our heavyweight prodigy Moses, topping the bill in another perfect test of his unquestionable credentials against a very tough American in Jermain Franklin."
Michael Ridout, EVP of Combat Sports & New Business at DAZN, paid tribute to Frank Warren’s remarkable impact on the sport and said: "We are proud to be partnering with Frank Warren and Queensberry to bring the Magnificent 7 back in such spectacular fashion. Frank’s 45 years as a promoter is an incredible milestone, and this event is a fitting tribute to his tremendous impact on the sport.
“The card is stacked with world-class talent and pulsating matchups, perfectly setting the tone for what promises to be a landmark year for British boxing on DAZN. Fans can look forward to a huge night of boxing at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena, live and exclusive on DAZN, as we kick 2026 off with a bang."
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WINS
13
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LOSES
0
-
DRAW
0
-
KOs
11
MosesItauma
Fighter ProfileMoses Itauma is fast closing in on seemingly inevitable world title glory. Still just 20 and only 13 fights into his professional heavyweight journey, Itauma is set to take a significant step forward on January 24 when he faces the combative and dangerous American Jermain Franklin.
Itauma, from Chatham in Kent, issued a swift and chilling warning to the rest of the division last time out with his dispatch of former world title challenger and long-time contender Dillian Whyte in less than two minutes of the first round.
It was Itauma’s maiden headline event and he marked the occasion in devastating style to retain his WBA International and WBO Intercontinental titles and also take ownership of the Commonwealth championship belt. Itauma is on a knockout roll and none of his last nine fights have gone beyond two rounds, including notable successes over Mariusz Wach, Demsey McKean and Mike Balogun.
Jermaine Franklin Jr
Jermain Franklyn, a product of Michigan, USA, is a dangerous heavyweight contender who will face Moses Itauma on January 24 off the back of three straight wins. His last success, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, was a unanimous verdict over Ivan Dychko, who was previously unbeaten in 15.
The only career setbacks suffered by the 32-year-old, known was ‘989 Assassin’, came on British soil. In November 2022 he travelled over to Wembley Arena to face Dillian Whyte, six months after his world title challenge against Tyson Fury, and Franklyn only lost out via majority decision.
His performance encouraged the promoters to bring him back over to face Anthony Joshua five months later. Again the fight went the full 12 rounds, but this time Franklyn was defeated by a unanimous verdict.
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WINS
24
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LOSES
2
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DRAW
0
-
KOs
15
Plus Full Undercard
Light Heavyweight
19(14)-2-0
Ezra Taylor13(9)-0-0
featherweight
17(8)-1-0
Zak Miller17(3)-1-0
Middleweight
15(11)-0-0
Brad Pauls20(11)-2-1
Middleweight
19(6)-1-1
Gerome Warbuton16(2)-2-2
Lightweight
14(0)-2-0
Josh Holmes17(6)-0-0
Lightweight
14(2)-1-0
Jordan Flynn12(2)-1-1
All bouts are subject to change









