Fighting fans isn’t something of a shock or surprise, but according to a Mail Online bulletin, former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is facing off against once-losing heavyweight contender Jermaine Franklin. will fight to The fight, which has been largely an open secret since earlier this month, is set to be signed this afternoon, with the match taking place at his O2 in London on April 1, according to a Mail article. .
There was talk of AJ fighting undefeated Australian slugger Demsey McKean, but Franklin is a much more reliable and proven fighter. With one majority vote, Franklin now has an even bigger fight to get into the big fight. Franklin impressed some fans with his performance against White, and his 29-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan speaks of a good fight heading into the Joshua fight.
At least Franklin’s promoter, Dmitry Sarita, has a good shot:
“Joshua has two losses and changing trainers is vulnerable,” Sarita said. “Let’s be honest. Some feel it, some don’t, but Jermaine is out there to take the win, and after that he wants a rematch with Dillian White, the winner of Fury vs. Usyk. I want to fight.”
This is a bold story from Sarita, but Franklin himself is a rather reserved man and never shouts or screams. But really, if the 21-14 Franklin can pull off a win on his April 1st, he could be right there and claim the biggest fight. And Sarita may be right in saying that 33-year-old Joshua is vulnerable. Joshua’s confidence could not keep up as he suffered two humiliating losses to Usyk, the second of which forced his AJ into some kind of mid-ring meltdown.
As clichéd in boxing as it gets, this fight is a must-win for Joshua, 24-3 (22). His fourth loss is nothing short of devastating. At Franklin, Joshua doesn’t face a particularly big puncher (you know, all heavyweights can bang to some degree), but AJ showed a good engine with a solid, durable punch. Fight against fighters. How will Joshua’s stamina hold up if this fight reaches a later round?
At the very least, this is a good, solid comeback fight for Joshua.
