Two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is reportedly set to fight Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena on 1st April. Given the date, ‘AJ’ will be hoping the American contender does not make a fool out of him in the capital as he looks to rebound from back-to-back defeats.
Despite what internet boo-boys will tell you, there is very little shame in Joshua’s recent reverses. Conqueror Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring champion, is arguably the best heavyweight on the planet. ‘AJ’ has rarely been appreciated by fans in the same way as his peers, and today’s primacy of the ‘0’ has damaged his legacy further.
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This country once carried Frank Bruno on their shoulders through three failed world title shots before he finally won the crown. You get the sense nowadays he would have been confined to the scrapheap by callous, bitter fans who only care as long as you remain unbeaten. Nuance has been lost. Credit is scant for those who overcome adversity. Comparisons to Tyson Fury, the unbeaten WBC king, have not helped either.
It is through this all-or-nothing framing that the Joshua vs Franklin fight is already being maligned. While you cannot blame fans for being hungry to see ‘AJ’ take on the division’s leading lights, it is hardly realistic at this stage of his career.
A long-rumoured bout with Fury coming to fruition would sell endless pay-per-views and tickets. An explosive collision with fellow knockout artist Deontay Wilder would be huge on both sides of the Atlantic. A domestic dust-up with Joe Joyce would answer so many questions about both big men. But these are not the sort of fights you take after three losses in your last five fights.
Comebacks must be handled sensitively if they are to be successful. Mike Tyson blew through 20-4 Henry Tillman in one round after his damaging 1990 defeat to James ‘Buster’ Douglas. Lennox Lewis rebounded from his 1994 defeat to Oliver McCall by walking through 22-10-1 Lionel Butler in five rounds. Wladimir Klitschko feasted on journeymen like Zoran Vujicic and Fabio Eduardo Moli after defeats.
Franklin is better than all of these opponents picked by illustrious former greats. He actually represents a tricky if not super-tough assignment for the Olympic gold medalist. Franklin gave former ‘AJ’ foe Dillian Whyte all he could handle in his last bout, losing a controversial majority decision. Many thought ‘989 Assassin’ did enough to beat an underperforming ‘Body Snatcher’ in that heavyweight twelve-rounder.
Having already shown he could hang with a former world title challenger, Franklin looks likely to keep Joshua on his toes. He is certain to be an underdog but he is no pushover. It feels like that’s exactly the level of challenge Joshua needs at this point in his journey. Steamrollering a journeyman foe for a quick knockout would not benefit him. Neither would a life-and-death war with Fury or Wilder. This fight sits right in the middle. Solid rather than spectacular.
Of course by its very nature, such a fighter only makes sense as the first step of a journey. ‘AJ’ and his team have spoken about getting him out three times this year. The Sportsman reported earlier this month that Dillian Whyte is expected to be the former champion’s next opponent should he beat Franklin. If he gets past old rival Whyte, then the aforementioned superfight with either Fury or Wilder awaits.
It’s a smart plan and one for which we now have a sensible start. Franklin ticks all the boxes for an ‘AJ’ opponent at this stage. Sure, it is not going to be a box office smash. But like Tyson-Tillman, Lewis-Butler and Klitschko-Vujicic, it serves a purpose. And unlike those bouts, it should be competitive on the night. Joshua gets far too little credit, but he deserves praise for that.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
