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Anthony Joshua bounced back from two straight defeats to edging out Jermaine Franklin by decision in a cagey affair in London thereby breaking the London jinx.
Joshua was returning to the ring for the first time since losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last year, and a win was essential in order to get his heavyweight career back on track.
And it was indeed the Brit who had his hand raised but he was surprisingly taken the distance by the rugged American who refused to give the Briton an inch.
Joshua defeated the American via a unanimous decision from the judges as their score cards read; 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111 in his favour.
The first round began with Joshua in the ascendency in a chess match-style opening to affairs as he looked to judge the distance and work his leading left jab. After exchanging heated words in centre ring between the rounds, Joshua started to open up slightly in the second stanza with the raucous crowd delighted, but blood came trickling from the nose of the Briton after a series of neat jabs from Franklin.
Joshua continued his impressive style that ensured he didnt lose guard all through the 12 rounds to record a win first time in two years.
The bout was a make or mar one for Joshua who had promised to retire from the sport should he lose his third straight fight.
The win would potentially put him in a good corner to set up potential clashes with the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and many others great heavyweight boxers.
In his post fight analysis Joshia said “It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck-and-dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out,”
“I respect him, he did well. I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out.”
Joshua has now won 25 fights, with 22 stoppages, and lost three since turning professional in 2013.
It is a second defeat for Franklin, 29, having lost to Briton Dillian Whyte in November.
Joshua’s next opponent will be announced in due course before the year runs to an end but a potential bout with Deontay Wilder could be on the cards.