In a highly anticipated heavyweight boxing match, Anthony Joshua has emerged victorious over Jermaine Franklin by a 12-round unanimous decision with scores of 118-111 and 117-111 (twice). The fight, which took place at the O2 Arena in London, was watched by thousands of fans and broadcasted to millions around the world.
Despite his win, Joshua appeared somber in his corner, possibly knowing that his performance would not strike fear in the hearts of other heavyweight contenders such as Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Joe Joyce, and Anderson Silva.
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Back to winning ways for @anthonyjoshua – he beats Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision in London ???? #JoshuaFranklin pic.twitter.com/5VEQJOlzwi
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 1, 2023
In a post-fight interview, Joshua expressed his desire for an all-British blockbuster with Fury, who is the current WBC heavyweight champion. “You know me, I try and provide for the fans,” Joshua said. “I know who the fans want. The ball’s in [Fury’s] court. I would 100% be honored to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. I stand here and I say that proudly. That would be an honor. So wherever you are, if you’re listening. You know my management. You know my promoter. We’ve had [dialogue] before so let’s continue and hopefully we can get this on sooner than later. We’re not getting any younger.”
The potential showdown between Joshua and Fury has been a long-awaited event for boxing fans. Negotiations between the two camps have been ongoing, but no official agreement has been reached yet.
With Joshua’s win over Franklin, he has improved his record to 25-1 with 22 knockouts. Fans eagerly await the next steps for both Joshua and Fury, and whether the two will finally face off in what promises to be an epic battle for the heavyweight championship of the world.
