Moses Itauma became the first heavyweight to blast out Jermaine Franklin in yet another world class statement.21-year-old heavyweight sensation Itauma was headlining another show after stopping Dillian Whyte in one round late last year.Itauma made another statement on his generational heavyweight journey beating FranklinHe was looking to go into deeper waters with American rival Franklin in Manchester, who had famously taken Anthony Joshua the full 12-round distance in 2023.And it looked ominous in the third round with Itauma becoming the first heavyweight to drop the American with a clubbing right hand.The ante was upped again in the fifth with a booming uppercut providing the breakthrough for Itauma.And it planted Franklin on his face with referee Steve Gray stepping in as soon as he could to halt the contest.The American was all on fours and desperately argued he would have beaten the count.But it was yet another stunning display for the British sensation, swatting away yet another test on his rampant road to world honours.View Tweet: https://twitter.com/hashtag/ItaumaFranklin?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5EtfwItauma breaks new ground with KO – how it happenedIt was a packed out crowd that greeted the rising heavyweight star, who was looking to make another statement to cement himself as a household name.Not many of his recent opponents have made it out of the opening rounds, and it was clear the crowd were baying for blood early on.Itauma looked hugely imposing in centre ring in the opener, with some big battering shots bringing up markings around the eye of Franklin who looked concerned.It was a dominant start from Itauma whose blistering hand speed was causing real problems for the American, and another clubbing left hand was the highlight of the period.Itauma gave Franklin an experience he wouldn’t want again, and continues to blaze his trail to a future legendary legacyDAZNFranklin went down in the third period with a ferocious right hook folding the off-balance American into the ropes but he recovered his composure well.He eased his way back into the fourth and it was job well done despite touching the canvas, giving Itauma a far sterner examination.The brave Michigan native was struggling with the speed and things took a sharp turn for the worse in the fifth.Itauma seized his opportunity and unleashed a quickfire barrage with Franklin bruised and struggling to hold on.It was a crushing uppercut that was the final blow sending Franklin’s previously untested jaw into orbit.He landed flat on his face on the canvas and although conscious, he had taken some real punishment and was quickly stopped.Itauma is now inches away from challenging for major honours and his next fights will be top level calibreQueensberryHis corner bizarrely protested but it was yet another mark for the future of the blue-riband division, and the future of British boxing.What next for Itauma?A looming world title shot in 2026 seems inevitable with the elite puncher simply unstopabble on his current trajectory.Itauma’s manager Francis Warren previously told talkSPORT that a shot at the victor of Richard Torrez Jr and Frank Sanchez’s IBF final eliminator is in the offing.He could also take a shot at the WBA ‘regular’ belt with Murat Gassiev waiting in the wings.Boxing scheduleFor all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s boxing schedule.