MANCHESTER, England - If he was born 30 years earlier, Jermaine Franklin would have been a staple on USA Tuesday Night Fights or a headline attraction on the Heavyweight Explosion cards launching so many fighters to stardom around the turn of the century.

The 32-year-old Michigan-native has the type of clever, slick pressure fighting style that time forgot.

On January 24, Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) will travel to the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England to fight the man widely regarded as the heavyweight division's future flagbearer, undefeated Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs).

Franklin is expected to provide the 20-year-old with the toughest test of his short but explosive career thus far.

"I like 1980s, 1990s guys," he told The Ring.

"My favourite heavyweight is Evander Holyfield. I like the old guys. Holyfield, Riddick Bowe. I liked Ali but hated the rope-a-dope, so I try not to learn too much from Ali but, yeah, I like all the older guys like Marvin Hagler, Sugar Ray.

"I watch a lot of those fights. Coming up closer, I loved Lennox Lewis. I loved that man. He's savage and I liked the Klitschkos."

Given Franklin is a fan of Holyfield and Bowe, it should come as no surprise that the legendary 1992 undisputed heavyweight title battle between the two rivals is one of his all-time favourite fights.

Lots of boxers will tell you that it is their dream to be involved in the type of brutal war that ensures fans never forget them.

Franklin has been involved in long, hard fights before and would be comfortable and confident if he can drag Itauma into a give-and-take battle.

He is far too wise and knowledgeable to arrive in Manchester with one gameplan, as experience has taught him the need to be adaptable.

Franklin will roll forward but knows he may be able to pose the youngster plenty of problems by showing him looks he hasn't yet seen, rather than gambling everything on a dangerous all-or-nothing approach.

"I try not to think too much about it because I have a problem with tunnel vision. I can get too focused on just doing one thing, so try to leave my mind open to be able to adjust to any situation," he said.

"I don't want to go in there just thinking, 'Yeah, we're going to have a war' or 'Yeah, I'm going to knock you out'.

"I've got to be prepared to box if I've got to, use my feet or brawl if needs be so just try to keep an open mind and see what's going to come first, and how to adjust to it."