It’s another new dawn at the O2 Arena in London this Saturday, as Anthony Joshua looks to climb the heavyweight world title mountain for a third time when he meets Jermaine Franklin over a scheduled twelve rounds.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promote Joshua vs Franklin, and DAZN televise the bill live.
Joshua turns to a new trainer for this assignment, after parting ways with Robert Garcia after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch in Saudi Arabia, and he takes part in his first non-title fight since 2015 under the tutelage of Derrick James, who coaches the likes of unified welterweight world champion Errol Spence Jr and undisputed super welterweight champion, Jermell Charlo.
Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) finds himself at a career crossroads ahead of this one. The Watford man won the IBF title back in 2016 by halting Charles Martin, and then unified before being stunned by Andy Ruiz Jr in a shock stoppage loss in 2019.
The 33-year-old regained his belts in an immediate rematch, and then knocked out Kubrat Pulev in nine before being outworked and outgunned by the aforementioned Usyk in September 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a points loss.
This time, an immediate rematch didn’t work in his favour though, neither did a move away from Robert McCracken, his long-time coach, losing by split decision in August.
Now comes a tricky comeback opponent in Michigan’s Franklin, who will most definitely come to win.
The 29-year-old has mainly operated with wins against respected gatekeeper types, but was thrust into the limelight last November against Dillian Whyte, who was returning after losing to Tyson Fury.
Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) did better than expected, and most felt he was unlucky to be on the wrong end of a majority decision loss to ’The Bodysnatcher’.
Prediction: Joshua will hope a change is as good as a rest, and defeating Franklin in good style will be a good barometer. I think a rejuvenated ‘AJ’ can halt the American within the first six rounds.
Wardley clashes with Coffie
In another heavyweight attraction, Fabio Wardley (15-0, 14 KOs) continues his rise up the ranks, and the British champion can claim the vacant WBA Continental belt with a stoppage win over Michael Polite Coffie (13-3, 10 KOs), who has lost three of his last four. It’s set for ten.
Yafai replaces Cash
Felix Cash was due to challenge Matteo Signani for the European title in what looked like a warm up to an intriguing clash against Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, but the 29-year-old has withdrawn on fight week.
Galal Yafai has been hastily added to the card in Cash’s absence, and the 2020 Olympic Gold medallist moves his WBC International flyweight defence against Moises Calleros forward a week.
The pair were due to meet on a Matchroom promotion in San Antonio, but collide here instead.
Yafai (3-0, 2 KOs) was taken ten tough rounds for the first time last time out, securing a split decision win against Gohan Rodriguez Garcia, and will want to impress here against multiple, former world title challenger Calleros (36-10-1, 19 KOs).
The Mexican has won eight of his last nine, the only defeat coming inside two rounds to Julio Cesar Martinez for the WBC crown in October 2020.
Prediction: Yafai can retain inside the distance.
Remaining Undercard
Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams (13-0, 9 KOs) is in line for a showdown with Cash and should halt the brave River Wilson-Bent (14-2-1, 6 KOs), who was stopped by Hamzah Sheeraz in two last November. Their meeting is scheduled for ten rounds.
Campbell Hatton (10-0, 3 KOs) gets his second run out in under a month on this bill, and the lightweight can record a points win over eight against Louis Fielding (10-7, 1 KO).
John Hedges (7-0, 2 KOs) is out for the first time in 2023, and the light heavyweight prospect should bank eight rounds for the first time in his career in a points win against Daniel Bocianski (11-2, 2 KOs), who was beaten by Tommy Fury in April.
Jordan Flynn (8-0, 1 KO) should bank a points win in his super featherweight eight rounder against Kane Baker (18-9-1, 1 KO), and promising Albanian cruiserweight Juergen Uldedaj (15-0, 6 KOs) can halt Benito Huber (8-3, 6 KOs) inside the distance.
Ziyad Almaayouf (2-0, 1 KO) returns after appearing on the undercard of Tommy Fury’s win over Jake Paul last month , and he should register a win on the cards against Georgi Velichkov (3-11, 3 KOs) at super lightweight, and at heavyweight, Germany’s Peter Kadiru (14-1, 7 KOs) can return to winning ways by stopping Alen Lauriolle (6-1, 3 KOs).
