Joshua gets back on track in unanimous decision vs. Franklin
Former two-time heavyweight titlist tentative at times but ends two-fight losing streak, calls for fight with champion Fury
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Former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua did not get the knockout he so badly wanted but he at least picked up a victory he needed far more than a KO.
Joshua, whose previous 12 bouts since 2016 were all world title fights, was hesitant at times and didn’t show much emotion or celebrate the victory, but he scored a clear unanimous decision against Jermaine Franklin in the main event of a Matchroom Boxing card on DAZN on Saturday at The O2 in Joshua’s hometown of London.
Joshua came into the fight off an eight-month layoff and the anguish of back-to-back decision losses to Oleksandr Usyk that cost him his three major world titles in their first fight, but he put those defeats behind him by beating Franklin 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111.
Fight Freaks Unite also scored it 117-111 for Joshua, who used a powerful jab to set the tone for his first win since defending the title by ninth-round knockout of Kubrat Pulev in December 2020. After securing the win over Franklin, AJ called for a showdown with British countryman and WBC/lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, which is one of the biggest possible fights in boxing.