‘New Dawn’: Anthony Joshua set to take on American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin
Although mixed martial arts may take a lot of the headlines when it comes to combat sports, boxing is still enduringly popular. It is pretty common, for example, to see those who follow MMA competitions⎯such as the UFC⎯also keep a keen eye on the boxing world.
One upcoming fight that has really caught fight fans’ attention is the clash between British superstar Anthony Joshua and talented American heavyweight Jermain Franklin. But what do you need to know about this contest?
Joshua vs Franklin set for April 2023
Dubbed as ‘New Dawn’, this fight is set to take place on 1st April 2023 at the O2 Arena in London. As you can imagine, tickets have been selling fast for it and there should be a big crowd to roar hometown boy Joshua on. In addition, PPV figures are expected to be high for this huge boxing bout.
It is also expected that many fight fans watching in person or via PPV will place bets on the contest. Sports betting and boxing are, after all, closely linked, with many fans looking to add more excitement to bouts through betting.
Joshua vs Franklin: Who is favorite to win?
The simple truth is that this could be a close encounter, one that either man could win. Both are coming into this bout with a lot of motivation to not only clinch the victory but also put in an eye-catching performance.
Anyone who follows boxing will know just how key this is for Joshua. The one-time golden boy of the heavyweight division desperately needs a positive outcome and a performance to re-assert his position in the sport.
Successive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk have really set his career back and he must avoid another loss in this bout at all costs. When he sees big contests such as the undisputed title fight between Fury and Usyk being agreed upon, a comeback victory is crucial to avoid him getting left behind.
While he certainly has the power, experience, and hand speed to trouble Franklin, you do wonder how sharp he will be after not fighting for a while. You also might wonder if the pressure of needing a victory will get to him and make him edgy going into this fight.
What effect could Anthony Joshua’s new trainer have?
The upcoming Joshua vs Franklin fight will be interesting because Joshua has paired with a new trainer for it. While he was previously working with Robert Garcia for the Usyk bouts, he has now switched to the respected US name, Derrick James.
This will be AJ’s first fight under the tutelage of James, and it will be fascinating to see if there has been any change to how he will fight or how he goes about his business. The impact of James on Joshua could be key in this bout and have a major say in who wins.
Can Franklin upset the home crowd?
As with Anthony Joshua, US fighter Jermaine Franklin will also be eager for a win in this fight. He suffered a controversial defeat to Dillian Whyte in November 2022, and this should see him firing on all cylinders in this comeback bout.
There is no doubt that Franklin is also a decent opponent for Joshua⎯with a 21−1−0 record behind him, the facts clearly show this to be true. With real power in both hands, Franklin could take advantage of any nerves that may affect AJ on the night and therefore, take the win.
However, one big factor that goes against him in this contest, is taking on Joshua in his own backyard. The home advantage at the O2 could be massive for the British fighter and put Franklin at a real disadvantage. You also have to remember that Joshua has fought and beaten Dillian Whyte in the past. With Franklin losing to Whyte recently, this could be a sign that Joshua has too much for him to handle.
Joshua and Franklin unveil a ‘New Dawn’ in April 2023
With the Tyson Fury fight a tantalizing memory for Joshua, his upcoming April 2023 contest against Jermaine Franklin is very real. A win for AJ will be the first step towards rebuilding his career and trying to reclaim the titles he lost. A defeat, however, could make it tricky for him to ever get back to where he was and will leave many questions about his future. For Franklin, a win against a top name whilst fighting away from the USA would be a major boost for his career.
