Anthony Joshua, the former two-time heavyweight champion, is returning to the ring this weekend in a high-stakes match against Jermaine Franklin. Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin bout is being touted as the “New Dawn” and is a must-win situation for Joshua.
AJ is a two-time world champion but has lost to Andy Ruiz Jr and Oleksandr Usyk lately. However, Joshua hopes a win this weekend will put him back on track to fight for a world title in the future.
So, Joshua and Franklin will both look to get their records back on track as both fighters enter the ring after losses.
Fans can expect an exciting night. In addition, the event will feature nine more matches, including some interesting names. Ahead of the event, here’s everything you need to know about the Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin saga.
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin Date, Time, and Venue
The fight will take place at London’s O2 Arena and is scheduled for Saturday, April 1, with the main event to begin at BST / 2:00 PM ET.
Date: Saturday, April 1
Time: 7 PM BST / 2 PM ET
Venue: O2 Arena in London.
Main Event Ringwalks (approx): 10:41 PM BST / 5:41 PM ET
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin Match Broadcast
The card will be broadcast live on DAZN in more than 200 countries around the world (excluding Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Armenia and Vietnam).
But if you are in Argentina, Chile and Colombia, you need to download the DAZN app from the Apple App Store or Android Google Play Store and then sign in there instead of using a web browser.
What’s on the Line in Joshua vs Franklin?
No title, of course, for Joshua to claim or defend this time around.
But it’s a little more than just a title at stake when he faces Franklin over the weekend. It’s Anthony Joshua’s whole career!
Recently, Joshua simply smoked away any chances of beating at Franklin’s hand. He went to the extent of promising retirement if American beats him.
So, it’s a must-win fight for the Brit. Or, he’s straight out of business.
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin Face-off at the Final Presser
Both, Joshua and Franklin appeared pretty confident in their victory when they faced each other off at the final presser. They didn’t hesitate in sharing their candid views.
Anthony Joshua’s Daring Retirement Promise
Anthony Joshua has mocked Jermaine Franklin’s knockout threat in their fight on Saturday, with the former world heavyweight champion insisting the American picked the “worst time” to face him.
Joshua has also boldly promised to quit boxing if he loses to Franklin. Such is his confidence.
“I will. I will retire if I lose. I’m not here to battle people. If people want me to retire, I will retire,”
he told the press.
“I’m not going to fight if people don’t want me to. It’s not even about the money. It’s about the competitor in you. That’s what’s important.
“It [pressure] comes with the business and it comes with the territory, I know that. I know when I am retired, I am gonna be chilling. I’m gonna be thinking f**k everyone. I am done.
“You lot put so much pressure on me so when I am done, the chains are going to be gone. I am going to be laughing and loving life.”
“It is the worst time to face me,” – Joshua
Anthony Joshua aims for a comeback after losing two straight fights to Oleksandr Usyk. The fight with Jermaine Franklin will be Joshua’s first fight in nearly seven years without a world heavyweight title.
Joshua van Watford unified the WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight titles from 2016 to 2018.
He lost them when Andy Ruiz stopped him in New York in 2019 but claimed them in a rematch later that year.
However, he has only won one match since then, a win over Kubrat Pulev in 2020.
Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, the undefeated and previously undisputed cruiserweight champion, defeated Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021.
Last August, with new trainer Roberto Garcia in his corner, Joshua faced him for the second time but was also knocked out in the rematch in Saudi Arabia.
However, Joshua believes that this time he is in the best shape of his life, both physically and mentally. Many believe his newfound fervour is also due to Dallas’ Derrick James taking over from Roberto Garcia as the new coach.
“It is the worst time to face me,” Joshua told reporters.
“The more he talks, the bigger grave he digs for himself but it is what it is. I could say a lot of things about him but I respect my opponent.
“It is not for me to talk, it is for you to do all the talking and for me to do my job. That is really honestly what I am focused on from round one to round 12.”
Franklin Promises Fireworks
Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) narrowly lost to Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena in November, but matched the build-up to that fight with his workload and vowed to be a better version of himself at the O2 on Saturday.
He said:
“In the beginning, I was on a health journey, changed my habits, changed stuff I was consuming, and my body weight has just started falling off.
“I’m more ready, I’m more in shape and I’m ready to let the fireworks go.
“I will get the win by any means possible, but if I can put him on his a***, that’s what I’m going to do.
“Anything is possible. I come from a place where there are not a lot of possibilities and I made it this far so anything is possible.”
Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin Fight Card
- Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin; Heavyweight
- Fabio Wardley vs. Michael Polite Coffie; Heavyweight
- Galal Yafai vs. Moises Calleros; Flyweight
- Austin Williams vs. River Wilson-Bent; Middleweight
- Campbell Hatton vs. Louis Fielding; Super lightweight
- John Hedges vs. Daniel Bocianski; Light heavyweight
- Jordan Flynn vs. Kane Barker; Super featherweight
- Juergen Uldedaj vs. Benoit Huber; Cruiserweight
- Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Georgi Velichkov; Super lightweight
- Peter Kadiru vs. Alen Lauriolle; Heavyweight
Why is Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s Promoter Nervous?
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT:
“I’m a promoter and I’m hyping the fight, but at the same time I am nervous.
“He’s coming off two defeats, albeit to Oleksandr Usyk, we saw emotionally the position he was in because he wanted to win so badly.
“He’s got a new trainer and he’s taken himself to Dallas with a very small team to work his absolute socks off.
“He’s lost two fights on the bounce, he’s no longer a world champion, of course, his star has fallen.
“But he’s a man who in my opinion is an elite heavyweight, he’s a top three heavyweight, who wants to comeback and regain his heavyweight world title.
“He’s the purest individual, he’s the hardest worker, he makes more sacrifices and commitments than any athlete I’ve ever seen and he’s my mate, so I’m so pumped for his return.
“I want him to go in there and show people how good he is.
“I want him to believe in himself, I want him to enjoy life and I want him to appreciate what he’s achieved and I want him to go in there and make a statement.”
Who is Anthony Joshua?
Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua was born on October 15, 1989, to Yete Joshua and Robert Joshua near Watford, Hertfordshire, England. Joshua attended boarding school in Nigeria and returned to the UK at 12 when his parents divorced.
He later attended Kings Langley High School and was given the middle name Oluwafemi, but his teachers and friends preferred to call him Femi. Joshua is the title holder in athletics, with 11.66 seconds in the 100 meters at the age of nine.
In 2007, when Joshua was only 18 years old, he decided to start boxing. Joshua’s cousin convinced him to try, and Joshua made it to the village. He won the Haringey Box Cup in 2009 and repeated the following year. He adopted an A.B.A. Championship of the year, which was great for him in his 18th fight.
Anthony Joshua’s Professional Record
Eight years and 10 months into his professional boxing career, Anthony Joshua has fought 27 times with 24 wins and 3 losses. As of March 2023, Joshua’s boxing record is 24-3 (22 KO victories, 1 KO loss).
Total fights: 27
Wins: 24
Wins by KO: 22
Losses: 3
Anthony Joshua made his professional boxing debut against Emanuele Leo at the age of 23 on October 5, 2013, defeating Leo by TKO in the first round. After his debut, he won 21 straight matches, including 20 stoppage victories.
Joshua had his first world title fight at the age of 26 on April 9, 2016 after 15 professional fights against Charles Martin for the IBF heavyweight title. He defeated Martin by KO in the 2nd round and became the world heavyweight champion.
He is a three-time world heavyweight champion and has won six heavyweight titles.
Anthony Joshua’s Best Wins
Joshua’s best fights and notable victories include victories over Hall of Famer Wladimir Klitschko, Andy Ruiz Jr., Charles Martin, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, Kubrat Pulev and Eric Molina.
Anthony Joshua’s KO Record
Joshua has won almost exclusively by knockout throughout his career, with 22 of his 24 wins coming by knockout or TKO. Joshua’s knockout percentage to victory is 91.67{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}, with an overall knockout percentage of 63.64{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} in heavyweight title fights.
Only against Parker (UD) and Ruiz Jr. (UD), he has won by the judges’ decision.
Joshua’s strength and athleticism make him a great prospect when opponents tire, and only the best fighters have been able to avoid a knockout before the end of the 12th round.
Anthony Joshua’s Losses
Anthony Joshua has suffered a total of three defeats in his professional boxing career so far – all in title fights. He experienced his first defeat against Andy Ruiz Jr. by TKO in the 7th round on June 1, 2019, ending his 22-fight winning streak. He retired once and lost twice by decision of the judges.
Who is Jermaine Franklin?
Jermaine Franklin, “989 Assassin”, is an American professional boxer. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, USA, on October 21, 1993, Franklin made his professional boxing debut at the age of 21 on April 4, 2015. He has yet to win a world title. Franklin is 29 years old and will turn 30 in 6 months and 21 days.
Jermaine Franklin’s Professional Record
After seven years and seven months of professional boxing career, Jermaine Franklin has fought 22 times with 21 wins and one loss. As of March 2023, Franklin’s boxing record is 21-1 (14 KOs).
Total fights: 22
Wins: 21
Wins by KO: 14
Losses: 1
Jermaine Franklin made his professional boxing debut against Deshawn Jenkins at age 21 on April 4, 2015, defeating Jenkins by TKO in the first round. After his debut, he won 20 consecutive fights, including 13 by stoppage.
Jermaine Franklin’s Best Wins
Franklin’s best fights and notable wins include victories over Jerry Forrest, Cory Phelps, Danny Calhoun, Ed Fountain, Daniel Adotey Allotey, Daniel Pasciolla and Adam Collins.
Jermaine Franklin’s KO Record
He has an impressive record of 14 knockouts and a knockout ratio of 67{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9} is proof enough of his striking power.
Jermaine Franklin’s Losses
Jermaine Franklin has only suffered one defeat in his professional boxing career so far. He suffered his first loss against Dillian Whyte on November 26, 2022 by unanimous decision in 12 rounds, ending his 21-fight winning streak. Whyte is the only boxer to beat Franklin.
Will Joshua See a New Dawn?
The pressure is mounting on Anthony Joshua, who begins his comeback fight on April 1. The Briton is scheduled to box with former Dillian Whyte opponent Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena and he cannot afford to make a mistake.
Comparing their records, these two fighters are quite similar. Joshua is 24-3, while Franklin has a professional record of 21-1. However, the knockouts are what set Joshua apart from his opponent.
The former champion has 22 knockouts in his 24 wins. The only two fighters Joshua hasn’t defeated are Andy Ruiz Jr. and Joseph Parker. So “AJ” has a rejection rate of 81{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}. Franklin, on the other hand, has only 14 knockouts in his 21 wins. This gives him a knockout percentage of 63{317a7769e272dec17b69bda26c6a5a4c5e6799efcd8a85f72cb552b76862c2b9}. So just looking at the stats, Joshua is a better knockout than Jermaine Franklin.
If we compare the nature of the knockouts, Joshua had more bad knockouts than Jermaine. Of Franklin’s 14 knockouts, ten were by TKO. On the other hand, Joshua has five knockouts and 17 TKOs. So even if you compare the nature of the knockout, Anthony Joshua is a better knockout than Jermaine Franklin.
Does this mean we can expect another knockout win from Anthony Joshua on Saturday? Unfortunately, the box doesn’t work that way. We saw Ruiz Jr. shock the world. In addition, we also saw Jermain Franklin giving it his all with a tough Dillian Whyte. The American is, therefore, not an easy nut to crack.
However, we still believe Anthony Joshua, one of the RDX’s ex ambassadors, has what it takes to claim the victory. So, RDX Sports will update you on the outcome of the match soon.
