The 21-year-old prodigy had to answer the bell for the third round for the first time in almost three years, but he controlled every second of a one-sided fight and found a spectacular finish in the fifth round.

Having previously taken former two-time unified champion Anthony Joshua and world title challenger Dillian Whyte the distance, it was hoped that if the 32-year-old Michigan man could lean on his toughness and know-how to navigate his way through some tricky early moments, he may be able to shine some light on the unseen parts of Itauma’s game.

The extra ring time will be invaluable for Itauma – who had only boxed 26 professional rounds before tonight – but he was posed precious few questions by Franklin, who struggled to deal with Itauma’s hand speed and feints from the opening seconds.

Immediately after the fight, WBO president, Gustavo Olivieri, took to X and announced that he will “formally recommend to the Championship committee that Mr Itauma be designated as the Mandatory Challenger in the WBO Heavyweight Division.” Fabio Wardley is the WBO titleholder.

“Oh man, I don't know what to say,” Itauma said shortly after his hand was raised. “The Lord is good, huh? Listen, I tried to knock him out in the first and second round, but I just thought like, maybe not today. I went back to the basics, which is go down to the body, down to the body and then the knockout just came.

“When I first turned professional, I thought I was able to win titles but I didn't think that it was going to be so soon. I'm just a young boy chasing a dream."

Itauma (14-0, 12 KOs) largely shies away from media attention, but his actions have clearly spoken loudly and his first headlining appearance in Britain attracted a large crowd of around 15,000 to Manchester’s Co-op Live.

Itauma didn’t start as though he expected to settle in for a long haul. His blazing hand speed was on display from the opening seconds, and his southpaw jab and lead right hook found the mark instantly.

Although Franklin (24-3, 15 KOs) clearly felt Itauma’s power, he didn’t fold as so many of his opponents have.

Itauma, ranked No. 7 by The Ring, rarely throws single shots. He may paw with the jab to create openings, but once he commits, he accelerates into his attacks, and he began to find a home for his left hand in the second.

Slowly, Franklin began to show signs that he was getting used to Itauma’s hand and foot speed as he began to look for opportunities to counter punch. But as the third round drew to a close, he was dropped for the first time in his career by a right hook that landed high on his head.

Weighing in at 258 pounds – his heaviest since his professional debut 11 years ago – Franklin got up apparently unhurt and navigated the fourth safely. Itauma mostly stayed patient but missed badly with a couple of wild overhand lefts as the round ended.

Any fears that Itauma may grow frustrated and start to rush his work were allayed in the fifth.

The left uppercut that Itauma landed as Franklin stepped forward into a clinch is the type of shot that very few fighters in the world are capable of finding. It froze Franklin where he stood and as he began to fall, Itauma landed a right hand to send him down face first. Although Franklin got up, referee Steve Gray dispensed with a count and waved the fight off at 1:33 of the fifth.

Itauma has now stopped his last 10 opponents and is edging ever closer to a title shot. His team will now need to decide whether to push for a fight with one of the division’s big names or bide their time and cast the net a little wider in search of somebody capable of asking him some questions.