Joshua vs Franklin LIVE!
Anthony Joshua made his much-anticipated return at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night. The two-time world heavyweight champion effectively put his illustrious career on the line against Jermaine Franklin at his spiritual home, desperately seeking a statement comeback victory after consecutive damaging defeats by Oleksandr Usyk and three losses in his last five contests overall.
Joshua had remarkably claimed that he would retire from boxing if he lost to the American, but ended up with a dominant points win that could yet set up a mammoth summer showdown with a certain Tyson Fury. But the durable Franklin denided Joshua the knockout that many thought he needed to put himself firmly back in title contention, before tensions spilled over in ugly scenes at the end of the fight.
British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley stopped Michael Coffie to win the vacant WBA Continental belt in the co-main event, with Galal Yafai also easing past Moises Calleros after Campbell Hatton scored a quick stoppage of Louis Fielding and Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams forced River Wilson-Bent’s corner to throw in the towel. Follow Joshua vs Franklin live below!
