Sports
Anthony Joshua Makes Impressive Return To Arena, Defeats America’s Jermaine Franklin
“It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck-and-dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out,” Joshua said.
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua won a unanimous decision over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night at the 02 Arena in London.
The 33-year-old British-Nigerian heavyweight won the fight against the tough American, but it was not the explosive early finish that many fans and betting sites expected.
The two-time champion won the match by scores of 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111.
The British-Nigerian won the fight with his uppercuts, which caused the most damage, while Franklin bravely took all of Joshua’s blows and refused to fall.
Tempers flared after the final bell as the two fighters squared up to each other, prompting their teams to enter the ring and be separated by security.
It is Joshua’s first win in more than two years, having lost consecutive bouts to Oleksandr Usyk.
“It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck-and-dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out,” Joshua said.
“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.
The boxers and their corners clashed momentarily after the final bell before security stepped in to calm the situation.
But soon afterwards Joshua’s hand was raised in victory, his 25th win in 28 professional fights, to maintain hopes of a “Battle of Britain” clash with WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
“I try and provide for the fans,” said Joshua. “I know who they want.
“They said Tyson Fury; the ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world.
“If he’s listening, he knows my promoter; we’ve had dialogue before, so let’s continue this. We ain’t getting any younger.”
The unbeaten Fury’s last contest was a trilogy bout win over Dereck Chisora in London in December.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, added: “He (Joshua) ended the fight well, but like he said they aren’t getting any younger.
“We would be willing to entertain those conversations to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer.”
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