Boxing

Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin: Latest odds and pre-fight breakdown

1 year ago

| BY News Team

Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin fight preview

Date: Saturday, 1st April

Ring walks: 22:41 BST

Where: O2 Arena, London

How to watch in the UK: DAZN

Records: Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs), Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs)

Latest fight odds for Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin

How can Anthony Joshua win the fight?

Keep it at distance and set up the right hand.

After those two painful defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua is out to get his career back on track with minimal risk and in spectacular fashion. The limited Jermaine Franklin seems the ideal dance partner with that aim in mind.

Look for Joshua to utilise his superior size, athleticism and ringcraft to keep the fight at distance, while setting up power shots with his jab – in particular the right hand.

The likely template here is Joshua’s fights with Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale and Eric Molina, all of whom the former champ knocked out in the lead up to his career-defining victory over the great Wladimir Klitschko.

Like those opponents, Franklin is a ponderous heavyweight who lacks handspeed and who will probably struggle to work his way inside to land telling shots.

Anthony Joshua, key stats:

Two of his last four wins have come on points
He’ll enjoy a 4’’ height and 5’’ reach advantage
His first non-title fight since beating Dillian Whyte in 2015

Latest odds:

Latest fight odds for Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin

How can Jermaine Franklin win the fight?

Draw Joshua into a firefight.

Despite his underdog status, there are several routes to victory for Franklin, against an opponent in Joshua who will be low on confidence after his back-to-back defeats to Usyk.

The American will take significant encouragement from the tentativeness and fragility Joshua has shown since losing the first Andy Ruiz Jr fight.

Franklin showed impressive durability and heart in his defeat to a sluggish Dillian Whyte in November, when many at ringside felt he was unlucky to lose by majority decision.

He’ll look to work inside Joshua’s jab and join Whyte, Klitschko, Ruiz and Usyk on the list of fighters who have exposed Joshua’s questionable chin.

If the fight goes beyond the first few rounds, Franklin, who went the distance in a tough and gruelling fight with Whyte, will hope that Joshua gasses out, which has been a problem for the British fighter throughout his pro career.

Jermaine Franklin, key stats:

This is his first fight against a former world champion
Four of his last five wins have come by decision
Second time fighting outside of the USA

Latest odds:

Latest fight odds for Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin

Our verdict: How we think Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin will play out

The most likely outcome is the one Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are banking on: a knockout win for Joshua that will set up a lucrative mega fight later in the year – possibly a rematch with Dillian Whyte.

What’s less clear is when the fight will end. The pre-Ruiz Joshua would have looked to get Franklin out of there early. But the Brit is a different fighter now, one unwilling to take risks.

Much could depend on the fight strategy laid out by Joshua’s new trainer Derrick James, who will be in the former world champion’s corner for the first time.

James has been highly critical of Joshua’s tactics against Usyk, when his man looked to outbox a master boxer. So, it’s possible we will see Joshua revert to the attacking style that took him to the world title.

Key stat: