Re-live Anthony Joshua's victory over American Jermaine Franklin as the British fighter scored a UD success to bounce back to winning ways.
MAIN CARD:
Anthony Joshua bt Jermaine Franklin (UD)
Fabio Wardley bt Michael Coffie (TKO 4)
Galal Yafai bt Moises Calleros (TKO 4)
Campbell Hatton bt Louis Fielding (KO 1)
Austin Williams bt River Wilson-Bent (TKO 8)
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"I know who the fans want to see me fight - Fury," AJ said.
"The ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight him for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. We are not getting any younger, so let's get this on.
"One fight leads on to another, and there are big fights ahead."
"Jermaine has got a good duck and dive style and there were opportunities there for me. I respect him because he did well. I should have knocked him out, but it is done. On to the next," he said following the fight.
"When people come to fight me, I think they muster up a different kind of energy. He was here to prove himself, he wasn't here to roll over.
"Nobody will remember that fight in 15 years."
118-111, 117-111, 117-111 - all three judges by UD in favour of 'AJ' Anthony Joshua.
The Briton has his arm raised for the first time in two-and-a-half years.
Wow, all hell breaks loose on the final bell as AJ steams over towards Franklin's team.
Not quite sure what happened there, but it was very unsavoury.
Joshua will take the win unanimously, but Franklin deserves huge credit for taking some of the shots he did - without so much of a flinch.
One or two flashes of brilliance from AJ, but it was clear as day that there is still a lack of conviction and confidence within him on the back of his recent setbacks.
We await the official decision...
A couple of uppercuts test the resolve of Franklin, but arguably the biggest punch of the round came from the American, who landed a plum right straight down the pipe.
We head into the 12th and final round, and AJ isn't going to silence too many of his critics if he fails to deliver the stoppage in the next three minutes.
Yes, it is the start of a new dawn for the former two-time champion, but he sadly looks a shadow of the fighter he was a couple of years ago.
A cracking first minute exchange the highlight of the 10th round.
Joshua picking shots off left, right and centre as he finally gets back to work on the back of that jab.
Franklin's legs looked so heavy as the round drew to its conclusion, with Joshua landing a couple of mammoth right hands to break the American's defence.
Joshua is seeking the KO he needs to make the statement he desires. Franklin undoubtedly needs the KO to win this fight.
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Franklin draws a huge gasp from the crowd as he lands his biggest shot of the fight, rocking AJ's head - but he recovers!
It was another messy round though, with the pair grappling and forcing the referee to have a word.
Joshua has looked very good in spells, but this, for me, is far from the vintage AJ of old.
One of the quieter rounds of the bout so far - maybe the two men are saving it up for an explosive ninth!
AJ being told to work that jab and follow it up better in the corner - Franklin's team are encouraging their man to keep upping the ante; they are confident in their man for sure.
I don't see how he can possibly win this on points, so he is going to have to land that KO!
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Arguably Franklin's best round up until the final 30 seconds, when AJ really started to let his hands go and land that hook.
The American will take confidence from the fact that he has gobbled up everything that has been thrown at him so far, but he needs to get on the front foot a tad more to start edging some of these tight rounds.
A couple of superbly timed double-jabs and a stunning uppercut the pick of the shots in the sixth.
Joshua well in control of this fight, and you sense that he is beginning to up the ante as he looks to deliver the knockout he so dearly craves.
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Franklin again swallows a huge AJ attack and barely flinches. He is showing tremendous resistance.
Anthony Joshua is looking good in there, working the job well, moving sharply and looking very powerful.
Difficult not to have give that round to AJ again.
A really entertaining round as Franklin takes a couple of huge shots to the chin, and comes firing back with his own troublesome strikes.
Joshua is definitely edging the rounds but he has got to remain so vigilant because the American looks at his most dangerous when the Briton opens fire.
He needs to stick behind the jab and keep Franklin at length.
A big right hand right on the bell from Aj, but Franklin swallows at up and waves his hands in the air as if to say 'that don't bother me'!
Joshua understandably a little tentative in there - unwilling to engage too much.
He's winning the rounds but Franklin is well and truly alive in this one, and looks dangerous on the counter.
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Some heavy bleeding from the nose of AJ as Franklin lands with a couple of big hooks.
Joshua worked the body of the American superbly well during the latter stages of the round, and definitely hurt him with a thumping right to the stomach.
Not a lot in the round.
So the opening three minutes goes exactly as expected.
Joshua takes hold of the centre of the ring, looking to utilise that solid left jab of his, whilst Franklin is moving swiftly to avoid those oncoming strikes.
Both fighters easing themselves into this, but I fully expect this to burst into life before too long.
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Here we are then... the two fighters make their way to the ring!
Anthony Joshua goes into the bout as the HUGE 1/12 FAV with Franklin priced at 7/1 to land the potential killer blow to AJ's incredible and illustrious professional career.
Let's remember the former two-time unified heavyweight champion of the world has vowed to retire if he is beaten tonight - so there is so much at stake for him.
We're just moments away from the ring walks and our resident Boxing expert tells us why this is the biggest night of Anthony Joshua's professional career...
Anthony Joshua (1/12) | Jermaine Franklin (7/1) | |
Age: | 33 | 29 |
Nickname: | 'AJ' | '989 Assassin' |
Height: | 6ft 6ins | 6ft 2ins |
Reach: | 82ins | 77ins |
Weight: | 18st 3-pounds | 16st 10-pounds |
Trainer: | Derrick James | Jesse Addison |
Record: | 24-3 (22 KOs) | 21-1 (14 KOs) |
Titles: | IBF, WBA & WBO heavyweight titles | None |
Last fight: | SD defeat to Oleksandr Usyk (Aug 2022) | MD defeat to Dillian Whyte (Nov 2022) |
Fellow fighters and trainers are backing Britain’s former two-time world champion to make an explosive return to in-ring action against Jermaine Franklin.
Such is AJ’s confidence ahead of his bout at London’s O2 Arena this weekend, he has vowed to retire if his American opponent is to inflict a fourth defeat in six fights upon him.
The former two-time unified heavyweight world champion knows he has to deliver a victory, preferably in eye-catching fashion too, if he is to harbour his own ambitions of capturing blue-riband division gold for a third time.
This evening heralds a ‘new dawn’ for the Londoner, as he takes to the ring for the first time since his narrow SD loss to Oleksandr Usyk - a defeat that forced the former Olympic Gold medallist to hit the career re-set button.
Joshua returns to action as the huge 1/14 favourite, with defeat simply unimaginable to one of the sport’s true modern-day trail-blazers.
On paper, it’s a fight he should win, and win well, but Franklin (7/1 to score the upset), who looks in fantastic condition and full of belief, is absolutely no mug, and will pose questions of the once top dog of the heavyweight division.
There’s little doubt that this is now the biggest fight in AJ’s professional career – by his own admission, his future in the sport depends upon it, and whilst Franklin will have his backers, many of boxing’s most recognisable figures are unanimous in their verdict as to how the fight will play out.
bet365 sought their opinions in the build-up to fight night...
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So here we are, the headline event - Anthony Joshua against the American heavyweight contender Jermaine Franklin.
This will be the first time that we will have seen AJ on the back of those two defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, against a fighter in Jermaine Franklin who gave Dillian Whyte a very uncomfortable night last November.
I do actually really like this fight for Anthony Joshua though; I feel it is the right style for him against somebody who doesn’t possess fast feet and is shorter in size.
I think AJ will get behind the jab with his new coach Derrek James in his ear, and feel his way into the fight during the early rounds before looking to break Jermaine Franklin down.
I specifically like the price of 4/5 for Anthony Joshua to prevail via ‘Technical Knockout’ in this fight, meaning that he would be awarded a TKO victory if the towel is thrown in, if the referee waves it off or even if there is a serious cut to the face of Jermaine Franklin.
Those middle rounds look a solid bet too, ‘Rounds 5, 6, 7 and 8’, so a victory for AJ across those rounds would pay out at 13/8 which I think carries appeal given the durability that Franklin possesses and given the expectation that the Briton will ease himself into this one on the back of his recent losses.
Tebbutt’s Tip:
Method of Victory:
Anthony Joshua - Technical Knockout
4/5
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Referee Howard Foster waves the fight off early in the fourth as Wardley pins Coffie onto the ropes with a barrage of heavy blows.
You could argue the referee halted it a tad too early, but there was very little coming back in terms of attack from the American.
A very good learning fight for the British heavyweight champion, who has now added the WBA Continental heavyweight strap to his armoury.
Another decent round for Wardley, who is undoubtedly the more polished fighter in there.
But Coffie is still a danger, and momentarily had the Briton under a bit of pressure in the corner, before he managed to turn himself around.
Ben Davison is urging his man to show a little more care in there, and I fully agree with him.
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Wardley, now 1/8, continues to dominate but has got to be wary of that looping right that Coffie is desperate to land.
The big American looks content to absorb shots in there, hoping to then catch Wardley with a huge overhead strike.
Another 10-9 round in Wardley's favour.
A wonderful start to proceedings for Wardley who rocks his American opponent inside the first 60 seconds.
He follows up a wonderful jab with a thumping hook to the temple of the experienced Coffie after starting in a southpaw stance for the bout.
The Ipswich man switched from southpaw to orthodox and back again during the initial exchanges. A superb opening round for him.
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Two big punching heavyweights coming up next...
Fabio Wardley (1/16) and Michael Coffie (7/1) have both had the fair share of first round knockouts, and we are 11/2 that the bout is done and dusted within the first three minutes.
We're just minutes away from the ring walks...
In-Play betting is available for this fight
Mauricio Lara v Leigh Wood 2 has been confirmed by Eddie Hearn!
The bout will take place at the AO Arena in Manchester on May 27 - what a stacked few weeks of world championship boxing we have ahead of us.
"Josh Warrington is going to fight the winner of this one, but this is the fight Leigh Wood wanted. He knows he can win this fight and we can't wait to run it back in Manchester," Hearn has just told the crowd.
Will it be repeat or redemption?
We'll have markets and odds up on site soon for this one.
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Well, we have seen three wins inside the distance for the three favourites so far tonight, could Fabio Wardley be about to extend that record to four?
We are 2/9 on the Ipswich man getting the victory before the final bell, whilst you can get odds of 8/11 for the bout to last Under 4.5 Rounds.
We've got plenty of other markets available to bet on In-Play too, so check them out.
British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley will also be looking to extend his unbeaten record as a professional as he faces off against America’s Michael Coffie over 10 rounds.
I expect Fabio Wardley to show those improvements that he has in recent fights – I thought he was very impressive in his three-round firefight with Nathan Gorman back in November.
He should win this fight though, and win well, but it is worth noting that Michael Coffie is very tough, he is an ex-marine and I feel as though he will stick around for a little while.
I have a feeling that the fight will go into the middle rounds – to the fifth, sixth or even the seventh round, so for me, I would be looking at EVEN-MONEY for the bout to go ‘Over 4.5 Rounds’.
Tebbutt’s Tip:
Total Rounds: Over 4.5
1/1
A mightily impressive finish as Yafai's early fourth round onslaught forces the referee to call a halt to proceedings 44 seconds in.
The Mexican looked over to his corner, with a squint in his eye, after being wobbled with a flurry of powerful hooks, and whilst he tried to continue, the official knew he had to wave the fight off.
Absolutely outstanding work from the Briton who is destined for bigger and better things in the future.
He could go to the very, very top!
Yafai lands a couple of stinging left hands in the third, rocking the head of the Mexican, but he enjoys plenty of his own success too.
This is turning into a cracking affair between two fighters who certainly aren't afraid to pull the trigger.
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Yafai is such a slick operator as he controls the tempo of the second against an opponent who has fought for the world title on two separate occasions.
This is Yafai's fourth professional bout remember, and he is already fighting opponents of such a stature, whose pro career spans 15 years.
Yafai is a real talent.
A superb opening three minutes work for Yafai.
Trainer Rob McCracken very pleased with the punch output and defensive work from his man as he eases into the fight with a comfortable opening round.
That clipping right hook caught the Mexican several times, and it's a shot he needs to be aware of.
We're underway with our third bout of the evening... this could be very exciting!!
The Olympic Gold medallist, Galal Yafai will be looking to make a real statement of intent.
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Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin
Bet Builder:
Fight Result - Anthony Joshua
Anthony Joshua to Scott 2 or More Knockdowns
Was 5/4 >> Now 7/4
WOW! It's over before the end of the first.
A beautifully timed left hook lands right on the kidney of Fielding, and he is unable to get back to his feet in time for the 10 count.
Hatton will be delighted with that - in what was his first eight-rounder.
As part of the undercard in London on Saturday night, we see the return of Campbell Hatton as he takes on Louis Fielding over eight rounds.
It’s the first eight-rounder for young Campbell Hatton who has been nice and busy recently, showing some real improvements under the guidance of his trainer and uncle, Matthew Hatton.
As for how I see this fight going, I expect Campbell to take his time before ultimately taking Louis Fielding out during the second half of the fight.
You can get 3/1 on Campbell Hatton winning the fight between ‘Rounds 5-8’, which I feel is a really good price.
Tebbutt’s Tip:
Round Group Betting (3):
Campbell Hatton - Rounds 5-8
3/1
Credit to Wilson-Bent who tried to soldier on, but his corner had seen enough and threw in the towel.
Williams really upped the ante over the final few rounds, and after finally landing that huge shot of his in the seventh, the wind was really taken out of the English fighter.
A succession of blows in the corner forced the Coventry man's team into calling the fight off - and it was a good decision.
Wow, just as I say that 'Ammo' Williams swings the fight well and truly in his favour with a mammoth hook that sends the Briton packing to the canvas.
Left, right, left - all landing flush on the jaw of the underdog - superb combination work from the Houston-native.
Credit to Wilson-Bent who fought on gamely, trying to get himself back into the contest, but that is a huge 10-8 round for Williams.
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Williams is in some danger here - let's not forget the American was 1/20 pre-fight, but Wilson-bent has produced the fight of his life so far.
Whilst he isn't looking like stopping the American, he is probably ahead on the cards.
Four huge final rounds ahead of us...
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Williams starting to find his rhythm now but is still looking to wind that huge left up a little too often.
He is desperate for a showreel KO in there, but he needs to show more patience and work that strong jab of his.
Meanwhile, the giant screen inside the arena shows Jermaine Franklin arriving at the O2 ahead of the headline fight, which is scheduled to get underway around 22:30.
Blood splattered across the face of Wilson-Bent, but another good round for the Briton.
It looks as though the wound came as a consequence of a coming together of heads, but he bounced back from that by landing a succession of late blows to the chin of Williams.
The American had his moments too, but he is very much in a fight here - could we be in for a shock in the main card's opening bout?
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Wilson-Bent looking by far the more composed in there, and he is growing in confidence as we reach the end of the third.
Williams' corner will be having stern words with their man - he just doesn't look quite at it.
That left eye of his has taken several heavy blows, and the team are working on keeping the swelling to a minimum.
A decent round for Wilson-Bent there, as he gets himself on the front foot.
Williams is a clear talent but he is looking for that 'statement' shot a little too recklessly - he needs to be a tad more patient in there.
The American was caught far too often for his corner's liking during the second round.
A tepid opening first three minutes as the two fighters ease themselves into the bout.
The more potent work probably came from the American, Williams, but there was nothing in there to worry either of the fighters.
So, here we go - an opportunity for 9/1 outsider River Wilson-Bent to get the biggest victory of his career under his belt.
He is going to have to go some to do so however, with Austin 'Ammo' Williams one of the most talented and brightest middleweight prospects on the planet.
We're just a few minutes from the first bell.
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The unbeaten middleweight prospect Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams is also in action at the O2 Arena, as he faces former English title challenger River Wilson-Bent.
I’ve been really impressed by Austin Williams who I feel has shown real improvements and progression in each of his last few fights, particularly against Kieran Conway, somebody we know very well over here.
He has gone the distance in his last couple of fights though, but I feel the match-making in this one is good for him against an opponent who we saw struggle quite badly against Hamzah Sheeraz not too long ago.
My play here is for ‘Ammo’ Williams to get the job done early in the fight.
You can get 4/5 for the bout to last ‘Under 5.5 Rounds’ or if you fancy round betting then ‘Rounds 1-2’ is BOOSTED to 9/2 and ‘Rounds 3-4’ can be backed at 3/1.
I feel there is plenty of value to be found in this fight, with Austin Williams coming in fresh, and appearing to have far too much for an out-gunned River Wilson-Bent.
Tebbutt’s Tip:
Round Group Betting (2):
Austin Williams - Rounds 1-2
Bet Boost >> 9/2
Watch all of Rob Tebbutt's Tips ahead of Saturday's boxing, including Robeisy Rodriguez v Isaac Dogboe in the early hours of Sunday.
We're offering EVEN BIGGER odds across all of this evening's main card action, including the opening bout of the main card between Austin 'Ammo' Williams and River Wilson-Bent, which is scheduled to get underway in around an hour's time.
Here are a selection of the Bet Boosts >> available:
Austin Williams To Win in Rounds 1-2
Was 4/1 >> Now 9/2
Austin Williams To Win in Round 6
Was 15/2 >> Now 17/2
Welcome to Fight Night Live for updates throughout this evening's Matchroom card at London's O2 Arena.
Two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua headlines the show as he bids to ignite a charge towards a potential third world title.
He is odds-on at 1/14 to get the job done this evening, so it appears more of how he gets the win as opposed to whether he gets it.
But 8/1 shot Franklin is absolutely no mug and is here in London to spoil the party - and given the courageous and impressive nature of his performance against Dillian Whyte last year, you'd be a fool to totally write his chances off.
This will be the first time that we will have seen AJ on the back of those two defeats at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk, against a fighter in Jermaine Franklin who gave Dillian Whyte a very uncomfortable night last November.
I do actually really like this fight for Anthony Joshua though; I feel it is the right style for him against somebody who doesn’t possess fast feet and is shorter in size.
I think AJ will get behind the jab with his new coach Derrek James in his ear, and feel his way into the fight during the early rounds before looking to break Jermaine Franklin down.
I specifically like the price of 4/5 for Anthony Joshua to prevail via ‘Technical Knockout’ in this fight, meaning that he would be awarded a TKO victory if the towel is thrown in, if the referee waves it off or even if there is a serious cut to the face of Jermaine Franklin.
Those middle rounds look a solid bet too, ‘Rounds 5, 6, 7 and 8’, so a victory for AJ across those rounds would pay out at 13/8 which I think carries appeal given the durability that Franklin possesses and given the expectation that the Briton will ease himself into this one on the back of his recent losses.
Wow, Anthony Joshua looks absolutely ready for war as he takes to the scales in London!
He comes in at 255.4-pounds - a huge gain from the weight of 244.5-pounds that he tipped the scales at ahead of his second showdown with Oleksandr Usyk.
Franklin on the other hand looks as lean as he has ever done, dropping almost two stone in weight from his bout with Dillian Whyte last year.
He weighs in at 234.12-pounds - and on paper, that is a huge disadvantage against a formidable foe in Joshua, who will be hell-bent on dishing out punishment as he looks to thrust his name back into the world title mix.
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Jermaine Franklin says he will show former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua the utmost respect when the two heavyweights lock-horns this weekend, but insists it will be he who prevails victorious.
“In my head he is still the world champion, in my head he still has three belts, so that is how I will be treating him,” the American contender told bet365 at this week’s press conference.
“But I am here to disrupt the plans, and everybody will be talking about what is next for Jermaine Franklin and not Anthony Joshua after Saturday."
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We take a look at why the bout is of such paramount importance to the former unified heavyweight champion.
The much-celebrated former two-time world champion heads into his O2 Arena showdown knowing that his professional boxing career is very much on the line.
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We analyse the credentials of Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin as the two heavyweights get set to make their in-ring returns at London's O2 Arena on Saturday.
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Our resident boxing expert Rob Tebbutt tells us why Saturday night's bout is set-up perfectly for Anthony Joshua to propel himself back into the world title mix.
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Everything you need to know ahead of the headline bout, including ring walk times, undercard details and details of how to watch the Matchroom promotion.
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