Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin | DAZN - 1 April 2023

[bedreamin]

Just watched AJ's IFL interview. Joshua's a weird bloke. And as much as a bullshitter and contradictory as Fury too.

Him vs Joyce or Wilder would be brilliant this year.

In my opinion AJ is too much of a deep thinker, tries to over analyse everything... sometimes better to just keep it simple.

[maverick23]

Just watched AJ's IFL interview. Joshua's a weird bloke. And as much as a bullshitter and contradictory as Fury too.

Him vs Joyce or Wilder would be brilliant this year.

In my opinion AJ is too much of a deep thinker, tries to over analyse everything... sometimes better to just keep it simple.

I agree on this. I don’t think he openly lies but seems to heavily over complicate things.

[ashall2]

Just watched AJ's IFL interview. Joshua's a weird bloke. And as much as a bullshitter and contradictory as Fury too.

Him vs Joyce or Wilder would be brilliant this year.

In my opinion AJ is too much of a deep thinker, tries to over analyse everything... sometimes better to just keep it simple.

I agree on this. I don’t think he openly lies but seems to heavily over complicate things.

There's a reason he was rarely allowed to speak unscripted and it was always Hearn and Adam Smith. Because he's a weirdo who just bumbles on and on in riddles.

[Ruthless-RKO]

In my opinion AJ is too much of a deep thinker, tries to over analyse everything... sometimes better to just keep it simple.

I agree on this. I don’t think he openly lies but seems to heavily over complicate things.

There's a reason he was rarely allowed to speak unscripted and it was always Hearn and Adam Smith. Because he's a weirdo who just bumbles on and on in riddles.

His Ghetto side comes out too quick.

[tony1234]

Not sure it's a good idea of Joshua's headline interview in The Sun today saying he's only wants the Franklin fight for the money, although if he carries on like this he will be making money from people wanting to see him getting beaten again

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

"Joshua Could Be Done At World Level If He Loses To Franklin", Says Hearn

“I think it’s a great fight,” said Hearn during a recent interview with Seconds Out. “He had a tremendous fight with Dillian Whyte, showed how good he is. Obviously, AJ is coming off two defeats, a lot of question marks for him. I feel like Franklin will be the guy to tell us where he’s at.”

“I think it’s very difficult at world level and getting to fight for the world championship again," said Hearn when asked what happens if Joshua suffers defeat against Franklin. "I see Franklin as a top 15 guy but if you're gonna fight for the world title, you need to go through people like that. That’s really the pressure. I don’t think it’s a career ender but in terms of positioning yourself for a world title, it will be difficult to come back from.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[mickey1975]

I just had a look out of curiosity to see if it had sold out yet and, strangely, there seems more available face value than there was last week.

[gregregegg]

I just had a look out of curiosity to see if it had sold out yet and, strangely, there seems more available face value than there was last week.

Would of thought it would sell out, But Mabey people are waiting to see what fury is doing…. IF ( big IF ) fury and usyk end up in England you would be pissed if you had tickets to AJ Franklin so couldn’t afford to see undisputed.

[maverick23]

Eddie said they’ve done over 13,000.

Crazy that AJ can’t sell out the O2 anymore.

I don’t have sympathy though as the ticket prices are stupid. I don’t get how many people can justify paying £350 for a mid-lower tier ticket to watch a fight we’d all be fairly confident about the outcome.

I’m sure it’ll still sell out but even still ticket inflation in sports is crazy at the moment. I paid I think £170 for AJ/Charles Martin and that was for bottom of the lower tier. More than double that now for a fight with less obvious demand. The UFC and WWE ticket prices are crazy too at the moment.

[garethhop]

Eddie said they’ve done over 13,000.

Crazy that AJ can’t sell out the O2 anymore.

I don’t have sympathy though as the ticket prices are stupid. I don’t get how many people can justify paying £350 for a mid-lower tier ticket to watch a fight we’d all be fairly confident about the outcome.

I’m sure it’ll still sell out but even still ticket inflation in sports is crazy at the moment. I paid I think £170 for AJ/Charles Martin and that was for bottom of the lower tier. More than double that now for a fight with less obvious demand. The UFC and WWE ticket prices are crazy too at the moment.

That number is likely to be inflated too with tickets allocated that will actually return for sale.

Wood/Lara has sold really well at decent prices though. Only about 1,000 tickets left for that.

[maverick23]

Eddie said they’ve done over 13,000.

Crazy that AJ can’t sell out the O2 anymore.

I don’t have sympathy though as the ticket prices are stupid. I don’t get how many people can justify paying £350 for a mid-lower tier ticket to watch a fight we’d all be fairly confident about the outcome.

I’m sure it’ll still sell out but even still ticket inflation in sports is crazy at the moment. I paid I think £170 for AJ/Charles Martin and that was for bottom of the lower tier. More than double that now for a fight with less obvious demand. The UFC and WWE ticket prices are crazy too at the moment.

That number is likely to be inflated too with tickets allocated that will actually return for sale.

Wood/Lara has sold really well at decent prices though. Only about 1,000 tickets left for that.

I had a look at the seating map and it looks less than 1,000 left so I’d imagine he’s not counting the cheaper tickets set aside to the undercard fighters in his 13.000. Who knows though.

The Wood fight is a great one and been fairly priced. Other than Fury, and Johnny Fisher to a much lesser extent, I think a lot of people will only pay decent money to watch good fights.

A mate and I actually thought about going to AJ/Franklin but quickly changed our minds when we saw the prices. I’m paying less for flights and 3 nights in a nice enough hotel in San Sebastián in May for a stag do.

[boomtown65]

AJ draw has gone downhill fast

IMO this is not an interesting fight

[tony1234]

AJ draw has gone downhill fast

IMO this is not an interesting fight

Maybe AJ is still a draw if it's in a decent fight ? A foregone conclusion against a guy beaten last time out by a guy Joshua has beaten is not worth the prices charged

[garethhop]

Agreed. He's still shifted a big set of expensive tickets for a nothing fight.

But I would note that I don't think the Joshua/Whyte fight is anywhere near what some are saying it would be in terms of a stadium fight, based a little on Joshua's fallen stock and no belts, but more on Whyte being a busted flush.

[keithmoonhangover]

I just had a look out of curiosity to see if it had sold out yet and, strangely, there seems more available face value than there was last week.

Do you want it to fail or sell out?

[mickey1975]

AJ draw has gone downhill fast

IMO this is not an interesting fight

Maybe AJ is still a draw if it's in a decent fight ? A foregone conclusion against a guy beaten last time out by a guy Joshua has beaten is not worth the prices charged

The point is he could have sold out in seconds against far worse than Franklin a couple of years ago.

[mickey1975]

I just had a look out of curiosity to see if it had sold out yet and, strangely, there seems more available face value than there was last week.

Do you want it to fail or sell out?

I couldn’t care less.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I don't think Fury sold really well against Schwarz and Wallin.

But the gate was in the millions

[keithmoonhangover]

I just had a look out of curiosity to see if it had sold out yet and, strangely, there seems more available face value than there was last week.

Do you want it to fail or sell out?

I couldn’t care less.

You never answered my question...... Where do you rank AJ out of the heavyweights of the last seven years?

[mickey1975]

Do you want it to fail or sell out?

I couldn’t care less.

You never answered my question...... Where do you rank AJ out of the heavyweights of the last seven years?

Don’t worry about it. Whatever I say will be dissected and disagreed with over several pages. He’s in the top five.

[tony1234]

AJ draw has gone downhill fast

IMO this is not an interesting fight

Maybe AJ is still a draw if it's in a decent fight ? A foregone conclusion against a guy beaten last time out by a guy Joshua has beaten is not worth the prices charged

The point is he could have sold out in seconds against far worse than Franklin a couple of years ago.

Agreed, the combination of a rotten opponent and Joshua on the slide means he isn't a draw now

[BigDoofus]

Perhaps Joshua saying he is only in it for the money and fighting the no.30 in the rankings is not helping ticket sales?

[keithmoonhangover]

I couldn’t care less.

You never answered my question...... Where do you rank AJ out of the heavyweights of the last seven years?

Don’t worry about it. Whatever I say will be dissected and disagreed with over several pages. He’s in the top five.

But you said........... Shall I pretend I’m impressed by him?

You're not impressed by a guy you rate in the top five over the last seven years?