Moses Itauma believes Jermaine Franklin will pose him the type of questions he hasn't yet been forced to answer when they fight at Manchester's Co-op Live Arena on January 24.

On paper, Franklin promises to provide Itauma with the sternest test yet of his credentials but the robust American is being written off by many as a measuring stick of the 21-year-old's progress rather than a genuine threat to his unbeaten record.

Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) doesn't subscribe to that theory.

"I actually think it's a test of opposition," Itauma said during a recent roundtable interview.

So far, The Ring's No. 7-ranked heavyweight has breezed through a cast of fringe contenders and faded names but Franklin (24-2, 15 KOs) will arrive on British shores after a career-best win over the previously undefeated Ivan Dychko and still in his prime at 32.

The Michigan native has only ever been beaten by two-time unified heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, and a peak Dillian Whyte - neither man came close to stopping him inside the distance.

Itauma is widely regarded as the future of the heavyweight division but hasn't been extended beyond the second round since coasting through six rounds with Argentina's Kevin Espindola in July 2023.

He understands it is crucial that he meets some resistance on his road to a title shot and is prepared for the determined Franklin to offer plenty more push back than recent opposition.

"I actually think it might be my toughest fight," he said.

"The reason why I say that is because what he does very well, there's still question marks [about me]. Whereas with Whyte, there's a lot of things to exploit in his game. Demsey McKean - to be honest - although he went 12 rounds with Filip Hrgovic, I personally didn't think that he was great.

"But I actually do feel like Franklin's a solid fighter so I'm ready for him."