Anthony Joshua (25-3-0, 22 KO) returns to the ring with victory. The former heavyweight champion defeated Jermaine Franklin (21-2-0, 14 KO) by unanimous decision (118-111, 117-111, 117-111) at London’s O2 Arena. AJ dominated the match from start to finish, but took the win without convincing. He didn’t throw combinations until the ninth round, landing loose hands. From there, he shifted up a gear and began to do more damage with his powerful hooks to the American, who was taking blows.
AJ He came out and quickly took over the center of the ring. Both fighters began to test each other by throwing the jab, and the former heavyweight champion landed a good left to the outside after several straights, which surprised Franklin. In the second round, Joshua came out more threatening. The American scored with the jab, and AJ responded with hard rights. Franklin landed a right to the jaw, but the Brit stopped the attack with a body shot. In the next round, Franklin tried to land a combination out of range, and was trying to dominate with the left jab, but without taking too many risks. He did not cost Joshua to return to stop the attack of his rival, and crossed a right to his face. The American showed a great ability to fit, and in the fourth round, he pushed harder.
Joshua dominated the match without much problem and without risking. He took advantage of his wingspan and threw the lighter hands. She landed a powerful right hand that Franklin took. The former champion connected free hands, not combinations. He lacked rhythm and dared more, but he was adding rounds. AJ he kept throwing his hard right hands, which Franklin was conceding.
In the ninth round, Joshua put up another gear. He pressed, marking the distance, and launched a right hand wide. The grabs began in the last rounds of the fight. The tenth round was Joshua’s best. He began to combine punches, and landed an uppercut and a right hand that hurt Franklin. The combinations of the British arrived powerful, and the American felt his crochet more and more. He ended up landing heavy hooks on an opponent who was butting his head in to stop the attacks.
Joshua and Franklin faced each other after the bell rang. The teams had to intervene to separate the fighters. The judges ruled a unanimous decision victory for Anthony Joshua in his great comeback. The British, despite adding another victory, does not finish convincing. He lacked rhythm and dared more, as in the fights with Oleksandr Usyk. We will have to see if he improves this aspect in his next matches.