Moses Itauma makes astonished admission after beating Jermaine Franklin Jr

Franklin, who entered the bout with a 24-2 record, had been knocked down earlier in the third round before the finishing sequence ended his challenge.

The contest represented one of Itauma's lengthier outings, yet the outcome was never truly in doubt once the young Briton began finding his range against the durable American visitor.

Speaking at his post-fight press conference, Itauma reflected on the remarkable pace of his ascent through the heavyweight ranks.

"I always knew I can do this, but I didn't think it would be so soon," he said.

The Burton-born fighter was quick to highlight the significance of stopping Franklin, something his compatriots had failed to accomplish.

"But obviously I've done what some other British [heavyweights] couldn't do [KO Franklin] and they've gone on to achieve successful things. So what's the limit for me?" Itauma asked.

His rapid development has prompted the young prospect to contemplate just how far his talents might carry him in the division.

Franklin's reputation for absorbing punishment made Itauma's knockout all the more remarkable.

The American had previously withstood the heaviest blows from Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua without being stopped, demonstrating exceptional chin durability at the elite level.

Itauma himself acknowledged Franklin's toughness, noting that Fabio Wardley had been sparring with the American ahead of the bout.

"He took Dillian White's best punches, took Anthony Joshua's best punches ... And obviously Fabio [Wardley] has been sparring him. We all know what Fabio can do and he took his best punches," Itauma explained.

Despite Franklin's proven resilience against some of British boxing's biggest hitters, he could not withstand the young prospect's power.

Itauma credited his coaching team of Ben Davison and Lee Wylie for his continued progression, while describing the finishing blow as a natural reaction rather than a planned attack.

"I tried to go out there and obviously try to make a statement, knock him out, but then it's the basics that got the job done," he said.

The victory over Franklin follows impressive stoppages of Dillian Whyte and Demsey McKean, with the 21-year-old dispatching each opponent with apparent ease.

Having now dismantled three experienced heavyweights in succession, Itauma is advancing rapidly towards championship opportunities and the sport's biggest stages.