Champ Anthony Joshua Claims Unanimous Decision Victory Over Jermaine Franklin
By Boniface Ihiasota, USA
Anthony Joshua, the former world heavyweight champion, secured an unanimous decision victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night at London’s 02 Arena, marking his return to winning ways.
The 33-year-old British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer managed to take control of the fight against the durable American but failed to achieve the explosive early finish many had expected, as predicted by betting sites.
Instead, Joshua relied on his uppercuts to land the most damage on Franklin, who remained steadfast and refused to fall.
With judges scoring the bout 118-111, 117-111, 117-111 in favor of Joshua, the two-time champion claimed victory.
However, tempers flared after the final bell as the fighters squared up, requiring their teams to enter the ring and be separated by security.
This win is significant for Joshua, who hadn’t won a fight in over two years since losing consecutive bouts to Oleksandr Usyk.
He expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that it was essential to win against Franklin, who he described as having a good duck-and-dive style.
Joshua praised his opponent for his tenacity, stating that he wished he could have knocked him out.
Joshua, who has now won 25 fights with 22 stoppages and lost three since turning professional in 2013, is eyeing his next challenge.
This loss is Franklin’s second, having lost to Briton Dillian Whyte in November.
