The heavyweight boxing match contested between former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin has been won by the former by a unanimous decision.
The bout, which was held at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, in Round 2, had Joshua bleeding from the nose.
Following Joshua’s back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the latter in August of 2022 in Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury called out Anthony Joshua for a fight in November or December of that same year.
However, the fight failed to come to fruition, due to sponsorship issues. Franklin fought Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena in London, England on November 26, 2022.
Whyte won by majority decision, although the decision of that fight was controversial with many scoring the fight as a draw or for Franklin winning.
Looking forward to showcasing his comeback, Franklin, again, suffered another loss to Joshua.
See actions in the fight below:
Round 3
Joshua misses with his right but Franklin responds by charging him down but nothing lands.
Round 4:
The fight is picking up but still no real danger landed either way.
Round 5:
Good uppercut from Franklin after AJ let his hands go. AJ is leading but is still bleeding.
Round 6:
Solid jab from AJ and a powerful left uppercut that shook Franklin.
Round 7:
Franklin is now watchful, parrying Joshua’s deadly hooks, as AJ tries to squeeze through a straight right hand to the face but Franklin escaped it. Franklin throws a left & right combo but AJ fires back.
Round 8
Joshua increases his pace in the eighth round, and pressures Franklin rigorously for the first time in the fight. Marcus McDonnell stopped the fight from becoming messy, this gave Franklin a little breathing space. Franklin moves up on the inside and drags Joshua to the ropes, with the Brit keen to get back into the middle of the ring. AJ came on powerfully smoking but Franklin is forced to hold him. More clinching and grabbing by nothing boxers.
Round 9:
Joshua secured some good punches as the two men clinched up. Franklin got going reckless, threw his head around in the clinch, drawing another warning from the referee. The clinch parade continued throughout the round.
Round 10:
AJ lands uppercut and a nice hook. Good work from AJ. The round no doubt, belongs to AJ.
Round 11
Joshua landed a huge uppercut and right hand. AJ got the big shots with the right precision.
Round 12:
A big right hook forces Franklin to hold on