Franklin is a tough guy, but he’s essentially a gatekeeper. Beating him should move a prospect into the top 10, but bumping to #1 suggests that beating a gatekeeper is tantamount to being the best challenger in the world.
The WBO and WBA currently use their rankings to speculate on potential. To see Moses Itauma at #1 after just 14 fights, ahead of guys like Filip Hrgovic, Zhilei Zhang, or even Anthony Joshua in the WBO, is a massive leap that bypasses the traditional “proving ground” phase. This is a way for the organizations to attach themselves early to the “next big thing”.
To be #1 should means you are the most dangerous person in the division next to the champion. At the moment, Itauma is ranked on what people think he will become, not what he has actually proven he can do against world class opposition.
The sanctioning bodies ranking Itauma #1 after just 14 fights, largely against lower level opposition, speaks volumes for their value. This points to a systemic issue where commercial viability and promotional influence often outweighs a fighter’s actual body.
In an ideal world, a #1 ranking should be a badge of “proven” status. That should mean you’ve navigated the shark-infested waters of the top 10 and come out on top.
If Itauma now faces a seasoned heavyweight like Zhilei Zhang or the Wardley-Dubois winner, those technical errors he showed against Franklin, the slow feet and the defensive losses could turn that #1 ranking into a very painful lesson.
The Shakur-esque step back that Itauma uses, his version isn’t nearly as fluid. If fans see this in slow motion, it’s a red flag for when he’s facing a fighter with an elite closing speed or a high-volume engine.
Being marked by an out-of-form Jermaine Franklin suggests that Itauma’s defense relies heavily on his youth and reflexes rather than good technical positioning. A top contender won’t just beat him; they would exploit those footwork gaps to trap him.
