Moses Itauma hopes to return to action in July, and whilst many heavyweights look to avoid the division’s hottest prospect, there is one man welcoming the opportunity to put an end to the hype train.

Just three years into his professional boxing career, Itauma is on the cusp of superstardom and the verge of a heavyweight world title shot, having skyrocketed to the peak of the ratings through a variety of vicious knockouts.

Last month, Itauma was taken beyond the second round for the first time in 10 outings, but Michigan’s Jermaine Franklin only delayed the inevitable, as he was dispatched after being dealt five rounds’ worth of damage.

Speaking to Naji Chill of Cigar Talk, another American, Jared Anderson – who Tyson Fury has widely tipped to be his successor and has backed him to bounce back following defeat to Martin Bakole – admitted that he was disappointed by Franklin’s performance.

“He [Itauma] is a great fighter, good feints, great speed. I really want to see him tested against somebody that is actually going to show up to fight.

“I don’t believe that Jermaine Franklin showed up to fight that fight, simply because he was just taking too many shots.

“There wasn’t a lot of what we have seen from him in previous fights. I feel like there was too much waiting, it could have been the timing that threw him off, it could be the speed that threw him off.

“I’m not saying this to discredit Moses, but that wasn’t what we expected to see out of Jermaine.”

Anderson, who recently signed a co-promotional deal with Itauma’s promoter Frank Warren, then went on to state that, if Warren is planning on staging a fight between he and the British up-and-comer down the line, then he is all for it.

“Everybody keep talking about this Moses n***a. Just ‘cos y’all saying that s**t, if this [deal with Frank Warren] is a crash course like y’all say, by all means [I will take that fight] bruh!”

Anderson will make his Queensberry debut on the Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois undercard, tasked with Solomon Dacres in what will be his first fight outside of the US. Itauma, no doubt, will be in attendance.