A career-heavy Anthony Joshua returns to the 02 Arena on a demolition course towards regaining his Heavyweight titles. Jermaine Franklin has received a fair whack of positive press in recent days – understandable considering his dubious decision loss to Dillian Whyte – yet the American is leagues below AJ on paper. Here’s everything you need to know about Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin, including the odds, their records and a prediction on who will win.
Heavyweight headliners always carry a fair slice of tension come fight night, but the Pintsized pick of the undercard features Gal Yafai versus Moises Calleros. The Olympic Gold gold medallist shaved a split-decision victory last time out in Abu Dhabi, but Yafai has challenged himself at a good level to kickstart his professional career. Mexican, Calleros, represents another veteran test in the paid ranks for the Brummie. Carry on reading to find out all of our boxing predictions for the surprisingly lengthy card.
Where is Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin taking place?
The event will take place at the 02 Arena in London, United Kingdom, on April 1, 2023.
What time does Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin start?
The Joshua Franklin ring walks are scheduled to start at 5.30PM ET in the US and 10.30PM GMT in the UK. The Joshua Franklin undercard is scheduled to start at 10.30AM ET in the US and 5.30PM GMT in the UK.
Where can I watch Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin?
Joshua Franklin can be streamed on ESPN+ in the US and DAZN in the UK. You are advised to use official streams for UFC Vegas 68 and avoid buffstreams, crackstreams or Reddit streams.
Main Event
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin
“You don’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano… Because I ain’t 14 stone, that’s why!” – Anthony Joshua, on the microphone, basked in the moonlight of the Jeddah Superdome, Saudi Arabia. It has been seven months since Joshua’s post-fight theatrics, an outburst that has never truly been addressed by himself or his promoter, Eddie Hearn. Unfortunately for AJ, it overshadowed what had been his most mature performance in the squared circle to date.
Back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Uysk have scarred Joshua’s legacy, there is no doubt about it. While the majority of boxing fans are well aware of the Ukranian’s unbelievable skillset and total domination of the Cruiserweight division, Joshua’s casual army of fans remain dumbfounded. Clunky footwork and stiff aesthetics aside, he laid down a thoughtful game plan that fell short against an ATG.
Jermaine Franklin’s stock is absolutely soaring, but don’t be fooled by the bubble. The Michigan fighter found himself on the wrong end of a decision against Dillian Whyte, but that is not the yardstick as to whether a fighter can handle AJ. Even if AJ takes time to find his feet in front of a vocal home crowd, Franklin lacks the pop in his punches to punish the Brit. The man took Pavel Sour for a full ten rounds for Christ’s sake.
There has been a lot of talk in the build-up about Joshua needing a ‘statement win’. It’s all hot air. Joshua’s jab has been his meat and potatoes since the Ruiz rematch, a jarring weapon that patches over his footwork deficiencies. Franklin will enjoy a slight edge in speed, but so did Charles Martin under the same lights that he will be fighting under on Saturday night. Franklin’s overreliance on cross parries will be his undoing.
Joshua vs Franklin Prediction: Joshua TKO Round 4
Co-Main Event
Austin Williams vs River Wilson-Bent
Austin Williams has earnt his stripes early in his professional career. Comprehensive decision victories over Kieron Conway and Simon Masden highlighted Ammo’s skillset as one for the division’s upper echelons. Not only is the 26-year-old an athletic specimen, but he also owns a fine eye for a counter-punch. River Wilson-Bent is a more technical fighter than he showed during his self-implosion against Hamzah Sheeraz. The Coventry fighter owns a strong set of whiskers too and will take the fight on to the front foot. Bent appears to have hit his ceiling, however, and one which is notably lower than that of Conway’s or Masden’s.
Williams vs Wilson-Bent Prediction: Williams Decision
Joshua vs Franklin: Undercard
Galal Yafai vs Moises Calleros
Galal Yafai, the younger brother of former world champion Kal, enters Saturday somewhat fortuitously as an undefeated fighter. The Birmingham native last shaved a split decision victory over Gohan Rodriguez Garcia on the undercard of Dmitrii Bivol vs Gilberto Ramirez. The Tokyo 2020 gold medalist is an aggressive counter-puncher, drawing opponents out of their shell before landing lengthy combinations. Moises Calleros won’t need much tempting to engage in a firefight. The Mexican has endured double-figure losses on his record but he has never shied away from sitting down on his punches early. It could make for some interesting opening rounds.
Yafai vs Calleros Prediction: Yafai TKO Round 7
Fabio Wardley vs Michael Polite Coffie
After a three-round destruction of Nathan Gorman, favour has swung back towards Fabio Wardley. The slick operator was written off after almost hitting the canvas against the shell of Eric Molina in 2021. Wardley’s excessive feints, shoulder rolls and unorthodox openings can often create a defensive disaster. The 28-year-old is ironing out his style in front of the cameras, however, and is slowly starting to implement his athletic gifts. American, Michael Polite Coffie, is tasked with snapping a 1-3 slide as the away fighter. The former US Marine started boxing late and it shows. Coffie is a powerful one-shot puncher but lacks the tools to close down his opponents for his preferred inside game.
Wardley vs Coffie Prediction: Wardley Decision
Juergen Uldedaj vs Benoit Huber
Undefeated Albanian, Juergen Uldedaj, is fighting again in the UK just two months after beating Bruno Igor Hong into a fourth-round submission. Uldedaj is relatively stiff behind his high guard while waiting for an opponent to over-commit. A nasty habit of coasting early rounds will come back to bite him as he moves up the ladder. His Swiss opponent, Benoit Huber, returns to the UK after being slept by Mikael Lawal in three rounds back in 2021. El Gato Negro is a tall back-foot striker who is thoroughly reliant on his powerful right hand. Unfortunately for Huber, his roaming lead hand and knack of turning his chin up will see him suffer further losses.
Uldedaj vs Huber Prediction: Uldedaj Decision
Jordan Flynn vs Kane Baker
Super Featherweight, Jordan Flynn, may only have one knockout to his name but that doesn’t stop the Oxford man from entertaining. The British Sikh boxer loves to throw extended combinations in the pocket, relying on upper body movement as his defensive bedrock. As long as Kane Baker’s punishing journeyman career has not caught up to him, he could prove to be a slippery banana peel. Flynn’s entries are naked and he tends to linger in range after throwing. Baker’s experience will see him pick his moments and leave his stamp on the rounds.
Flynn vs Baker Prediction: Baker Decision
John Hedges vs Daniel Bocianski
Eventually, I will stop rabbiting on about John Hedges having robbed poor Jan Ardon. Perhaps when the 6’5″ beanpole picks up a world title. The 20-year-old remains a work in progress and understandably so, Hedges’ gigantic frame requires a lot of fine-tuning time in the ring against varied opposition. Opponent, Daniel Bocianski, is best known for going the full six rounds against Tommy Fury. The Pole is a tough cookie but lacks the technical fundamentals to challenge Hedges in any area of the fight game.
Hedges vs Bocianski Prediction: Hedges Decision
Campbell Hatton vs Louis Fielding
Campbell Hatton is another fighter that miraculously enjoyed a favourable scorecard on a Matchroom card – stealing a decision against Spaniard Sonni Martinez. Since that 2021 debacle, Campbell has sharpened his game. Namely, the doubling and tripling of his jab to work his way into body punching range. That alone should prove the difference against Louis Fielding – a fighter who has failed at every step-up against British competition. The Staffordshire boxer has the heart of a lion, however, attempting to push a pace despite clear technical and athletic limitations.
Hatton vs Fielding Prediction: Hatton TKO Round 3
Peter Kadiru vs Alen Lauriolle
German prospect, Peter Kadiru, was brutally stripped of his undefeated record after suffering a first-round KO to Marcos Antonio Aumada last time out. The 25-year-old is a solid straight puncher whose tendency to keep his head on the centre line was exploited by the experienced Aumada. Fellow national, Alen Lauriolle, lacks the power to shock the odds once again. Sacrificing height and reach is a death sentence against a stalwart jabber like Kadiru.
Kadiru vs Lauriolle Prediction: Kadiru Decision
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Georgi Velichkov
Fighting outside of his native Saudia Arabia for the first time, Ziyad Almaayouf will be eager for a smoother victory in his third professional fight. The unheralded Ronnald Martinez knocked Almaayouf down in the first round and required Zizo to dig deep to flip the scorecards. Bulgarian, Georgi Velichkov, is yet to win a fight in the UK (over seven fights) and has not tasted victory for eight fights.
Almaayouf vs Velichkov Prediction: Almaayouf TKO Round 2