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

[Frostieballs]

Divesting of the headphones!

We can all have a little pull and a push!

I'm more generous to Joshua's performance than most, with a couple caveats: his big shots were infrequent enough to highlight his gunshyness in the main; and once again he sought instruction on things that should be obvious to an experienced boxer.

But he's still a fantastic athlete in a weak division, and managed a reasonable pace while heavy in his mid 30s. Franklin's clearly tough and I think people might be sleeping on that aspect; a gatekeeper by talent but not desire. Sure he's a plodder, and sure Whyte hurt him more than AJ when he staggered him, but he was fatter then and plenty of us felt he shaded it. There's no doubt AJ outpointed him with rounds to spare. And re: shorter opponents, Takam was a hard night for him in his mental prime.

I'd keep him away from Wilder until the end of his career, else it could end on a single punch. But that said, I would make him favourite. And he doesn't need Joyce next, he needs Fury. That's the fight to get them both fired up, and I actually fancy Fury hasn't fought as good an all-rounder since Wlad, while Joshua's fresh from losing to the most skilful heavy. I'd give him a chance.

Reasonable pace? Can’t agree with that mate. It was like watching a fight on slow mo.

[mickey1975]

I genuinely believe Wilder would knock Usyk out. He’s hittable. Round nine against AJ was alarming.

dat fury-wilder man love

I knew that was coming. I believe it. Do you believe he won’t because he beat Aj?

[KiwiRider]

That'd be a good next opponent to be fair. I think he'd give Dubios a boxing lesson, styles make fights and I think Dubios style is perfect for AJ to look good.

I think he would too.
But I also think that if or when DD catchs him, it will be all over. The AJ we saw is too timid, too gunshy.
Hard to say if it will be entertaining, AJ is so negative now

Maybe a grudge match with Whyte could do him good, a tasty build-up and AJ relies on his 'roadman' spirit, rather than his boxing ability. I doubt he'd be as gun shy if he faced Whyte, and stopping him again could do his confidence some good.

I'm generally not a fan of rematchs when the first one was so decisive. But given how both of them have changed during the interim, it might be interesting, although one flush uppercut and Whyte is in la-la land unfortunately.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Sensational stuff from Ron !!

AJ looked like he didn’t really wanna be there. Whatever he’s looking for he won’t find it in a further tune up fight against over the hill very limited Dillian Whyte. He needs to make the big fights now.

In order of preference I’d like to see him fight Joyce, Wilder and Fury

[margaret thatcher]

I genuinely believe Wilder would knock Usyk out. He’s hittable. Round nine against AJ was alarming.

dat fury-wilder man love

I knew that was coming. I believe it. Do you believe he won’t because he beat Aj?

because he's an absolutely superb boxer with a great engine

[mickey1975]

dat fury-wilder man love

I knew that was coming. I believe it. Do you believe he won’t because he beat Aj?

because he's an absolutely superb boxer with a great engine

Agreed. But he also gets hit. The engine won't come into it if he is unconscious. We will hopefully find out one day.

[margaret thatcher]

engine is an important part of recovery and being able to hold it together late, contrary to some people's belief most wilder victims werent laid out unconscious with his first power shot. even molina kept getting up

[handsofstone]

Btw Franklin is an interesting heavyweight, should've beat Whyte and gave Joshua problems, as long as he doesn't go fat again like Ruiz did, his hand speed and whiskers gives him an edge

[KiwiRider]

Btw Franklin is an interesting heavyweight, should've beat Whyte and gave Joshua problems, as long as he doesn't go fat again like Ruiz did, his hand speed and whiskers gives him an edge

Agree, he was more live than I expected Vs Whyte, and came in fitter Vs AJ and didn't make it too easy for the most part. Still too small and too fat though

[Grilling Machine]

Reasonable pace? Can’t agree with that mate. It was like watching a fight on slow mo.

Reasonable by the standards of a bloke a stone above his best weight and a fat lad who throws in bursts.

Some people were in two minds about betting on Franklin, and must've felt relieved a few rounds in if they hadn't. I know AJ was a bit gunshy and ran out of ideas too soon, but he also took some hefty punches well and never looked flustered.

We knew about his negatives, especially post-Ruiz, but Usyk II was the best he's ever boxed and he dealt with Franklin far more comfortably than Whyte. I think there were positives.

[The Gratest]

Fury will have watched that lacklustre, disinterested version of Joshua and thought 'FFS! I could've had an amazing grand finale to my Netflix series against the Bodybuilder instead of the shitfest spar with Chisora! Why did I set those stupid bloody deadlines!? '

[handsofstone]

Btw Franklin is an interesting heavyweight, should've beat Whyte and gave Joshua problems, as long as he doesn't go fat again like Ruiz did, his hand speed and whiskers gives him an edge

Agree, he was more live than I expected Vs Whyte, and came in fitter Vs AJ and didn't make it too easy for the most part. Still too small and too fat though

Small and Fat is Joshua's kryptonite....used to be Fury's too especially southpaws, that was a while ago tho, I genuinely think Joshua's style is a bit different if he shows belief, his passive style doesn't mean if he lands clean he won't wobble legs, even Lewis went 12 with that Croatian , we didn't have forums or social media back then , Joshua was stiff and apprehensive last night but is still levels above Whyte and Chisora, so let's not make Fury or Wilder to be ATGs

[BigDoofus]

Small and Fat is Joshua's kryptonite....

Hearn has spent years keeping him away from the 2 bigger guys.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[handsofstone]

Small and Fat is Joshua's kryptonite....

Hearn has spent years keeping him away from the 2 bigger guys.

By offering both the Joshua fight on a plate? Are you down syndrome??

[BigDoofus]

Small and Fat is Joshua's kryptonite....

Hearn has spent years keeping him away from the 2 bigger guys.

By offering both the Joshua fight on a plate? Are you down syndrome??

Didn’t “sponsorship deals” take it off the plate?
Terrific insult. Well done.

[mickey1975]

Small and Fat is Joshua's kryptonite....

Hearn has spent years keeping him away from the 2 bigger guys.

By offering both the Joshua fight on a plate? Are you down syndrome??

After Conor Benn, Donald McRae, etc do you really still believe the utter crap that comes out of Hearns mouth? He makes John Fury look honest, just has a charm about him. The comments from Conte and that lawyer summed him up. NO WAY did he want AJ anywhere near Wilder, ever. Fury, maybe, pre Wilder 1.

[The Gratest]

Can't we just copy links to all the previous Wilder v Joshua, Fury v Joshua threads to help save a repetitive shitshow? It's clear no-one's going to alter their opinion on the who's to blame.

[Ricky]

Just watched the highlights. Joshua really has done well to have the career he's had - because let's be honest, he's not very good at boxing. His footwork is awful, his stance is so wide, everything bar his hands is so slow. He's no natural ability to ride or slip punches, he ate loads of right hands that seemed so obvious where they were coming from, if Franklin could bang he'd have had AJ out of there.

Joshua would be best just sticking to bowling over no-hopers to keep his UnderArmour & Lynx deals on the table for now, then hang them up.

In years to come he'll be fondly remembered as the guy who asked the Saudi Arabians for 3 hiphip hoorays but then giving them 5 hiphip hoorays.

[veriton]

Just watched the highlights. Joshua really has done well to have the career he's had - because let's be honest, he's not very good at boxing. His footwork is awful, his stance is so wide, everything bar his hands is so slow. He's no natural ability to ride or slip punches, he ate loads of right hands that seemed so obvious where they were coming from, if Franklin could bang he'd have had AJ out of there.

Joshua would be best just sticking to bowling over no-hopers to keep his UnderArmour & Lynx deals on the table for now, then hang them up.

In years to come he'll be fondly remembered as the guy who asked the Saudi Arabians for 3 hiphip hoorays but then giving them 5 hiphip hoorays.

Should you even be on a boxing forum posting crap like this? I never see football fans saying World Cup winners don't know how to kick a ball.

I'm not AJs biggest fan but please keep it in perspective and, as Ron Mac would say, do not divest your opinion from reality!

[Ricky]

Just watched the highlights. Joshua really has done well to have the career he's had - because let's be honest, he's not very good at boxing. His footwork is awful, his stance is so wide, everything bar his hands is so slow. He's no natural ability to ride or slip punches, he ate loads of right hands that seemed so obvious where they were coming from, if Franklin could bang he'd have had AJ out of there.

Joshua would be best just sticking to bowling over no-hopers to keep his UnderArmour & Lynx deals on the table for now, then hang them up.

In years to come he'll be fondly remembered as the guy who asked the Saudi Arabians for 3 hiphip hoorays but then giving them 5 hiphip hoorays.

Should you even be on a boxing forum posting crap like this? I never see football fans saying World Cup winners don't know how to kick a ball.

I'm not AJs biggest fan but please keep it in perspective and, as Ron Mac would say, do not divest your opinion from reality!

Maybe you would if there were 4 different World Cups and to win one of them you only had to beat Charles Martin

[handsofstone]

Hearn has spent years keeping him away from the 2 bigger guys.

By offering both the Joshua fight on a plate? Are you down syndrome??

After Conor Benn, Donald McRae, etc do you really still believe the utter crap that comes out of Hearns mouth? He makes John Fury look honest, just has a charm about him. The comments from Conte and that lawyer summed him up. NO WAY did he want AJ anywhere near Wilder, ever. Fury, maybe, pre Wilder 1.

Hearn is a liar but it's not up for debate that Wilder and Fury both turned down offers to fight Joshua, it's fact, are you in denial about that ?? Wilder admitted it and we don't have to go into details about how Fury shat the bed, Wilder turned it down and has admitted it, there's no grey area here, why use John Fury as an example of a liar when you've got Tyson right there??

[joshj909]

By offering both the Joshua fight on a plate? Are you down syndrome??

After Conor Benn, Donald McRae, etc do you really still believe the utter crap that comes out of Hearns mouth? He makes John Fury look honest, just has a charm about him. The comments from Conte and that lawyer summed him up. NO WAY did he want AJ anywhere near Wilder, ever. Fury, maybe, pre Wilder 1.

Hearn is a liar but it's not up for debate that Wilder and Fury both turned down offers to fight Joshua, it's fact, are you in denial about that ?? Wilder admitted it and we don't have to go into details about how Fury shat the bed, Wilder turned it down and has admitted it, there's no grey area here, why use John Fury as an example of a liar when you've got Tyson right there??

Hearn is a liar, but so are Frank, Tyson and John. You have to locate the truths yourself. If they state opposing "facts" then one or both of the parties are lying. Stating that one is a known liar so must always be lying is the wrong way to approach these guys when they are disputing information stated by other known liars.

[mickey1975]

By offering both the Joshua fight on a plate? Are you down syndrome??

After Conor Benn, Donald McRae, etc do you really still believe the utter crap that comes out of Hearns mouth? He makes John Fury look honest, just has a charm about him. The comments from Conte and that lawyer summed him up. NO WAY did he want AJ anywhere near Wilder, ever. Fury, maybe, pre Wilder 1.

Hearn is a liar but it's not up for debate that Wilder and Fury both turned down offers to fight Joshua, it's fact, are you in denial about that ?? Wilder admitted it and we don't have to go into details about how Fury shat the bed, Wilder turned it down and has admitted it, there's no grey area here, why use John Fury as an example of a liar when you've got Tyson right there??

Didn't he turn one down with proof of funds? Look at his matchmaking. It is horrendous. Only two good fighters out there in his prime and he fought neither.

[maverick23]

After Conor Benn, Donald McRae, etc do you really still believe the utter crap that comes out of Hearns mouth? He makes John Fury look honest, just has a charm about him. The comments from Conte and that lawyer summed him up. NO WAY did he want AJ anywhere near Wilder, ever. Fury, maybe, pre Wilder 1.

Hearn is a liar but it's not up for debate that Wilder and Fury both turned down offers to fight Joshua, it's fact, are you in denial about that ?? Wilder admitted it and we don't have to go into details about how Fury shat the bed, Wilder turned it down and has admitted it, there's no grey area here, why use John Fury as an example of a liar when you've got Tyson right there??

Didn't he turn one down with proof of funds? Look at his matchmaking. It is horrendous. Only two good fighters out there in his prime and he fought neither.

Usyk not a good a fighter?