Joshua set for Franklin showdown
Since Anthony Joshua lost his second fight in succession to the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, the British heavyweight has taken time to consider his options. The former Olympic Gold medalist may have even looked at retirement, while sizing up an opponent that would maintain his relevance in this division.
That wait finally appears to be over, with news of AJ’s next opponent eventually coming through.
Franklin Next
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has stated that his fighter is lined up to take on the American Jermaine Franklin. The exact date and venue is expected to be confirmed shortly, expected on April 1st in London, but this bout represents a big deal for both men.
Franklin’s camp have hinted that this is a ‘dream come true’ for their man, who has been looking for a fight with a world class opponent for some time. It’s not exactly a dream battle for AJ but it is an important one. A comfortable victory would put him back on track for a world title tilt, while a loss or even a difficult win will leave the boxing fraternity to ask serious questions.
It’s a pivotal moment in AJ’s career, but he certainly has the support of the neutrals.
The Tale of the Tape
According to the betting markets, Jermaine Franklin isn’t likely to provide too much of a test when he steps in the ring with Anthony Joshua. While the dates for the bout were being confirmed, the top betting sites from around the online industry were already listing AJ as the red hot favourite.
Those two defeats to Usyk had put a dent in the British fighter’s record which now stands at 24 wins and three losses from 27 outings. His opponent, the American Jermaine Franklin, has fought 22 times and has 21 wins and one defeat.
It’s widely felt that Franklin has yet to take on anyone of Joshua’s class and the markets appear to have got it right.
There is, however, scope for movement in the odds. The figures are supplied by sources attached to Sbo.net and this website is a one-stop shop for all boxing betting. The Joshua v Franklin market is already in place and will remain available until the fight is won.
Supporting information is provided via news stories and general opinion while each sportsbook also receives an extensive review. If any operator is of interest, they will all be accepting new customers for those who want to get involved.
Each bookmaker referenced by SBO will require a secure registration form and many will issue a generous welcome promotion once it’s complete. There will be a range of different funding methods to handle deposits and withdrawals, while customer services can step in if there are any queries.
Moving forward, there may well be ongoing offers to take up, while the list of additional benefits will almost certainly include live markets, mobile apps and a choice of other sports.
Those markets will start to fill up as soon as the Joshua v Franklin fight is confirmed, but where will AJ go once the final bell sounds?
Where Does Anthony Joshua Go Next?
AJ’s next move will likely come down to the result of his fight with Jermaine Franklin. If he wins, as expected, he will look to climb up the ladder with a view to ultimately reclaiming his heavyweight belts.
Joshua’s future could also be tied in with that of Tyson Fury. A showdown between the fellow countrymen has been discussed for some time and it’s a battle that British boxing fans would love to see.
AJ v Fury is likely to have already happened if Joshua had come through his first bout with Oleksandr Usyk. Defeat still left the option open but AJ opted to trigger the rematch clause which ultimately ended in another defeat to the Ukrainian.
It’s now left to Tyson Fury to take on Usyk in a bid to restore some British pride. Irrespective of whether he wins or loses that fight, Anthony Joshua could well be his next opponent. Boxing fans will hope that such a bout has something riding on it.
Fury v Joshua will be a true Battle of Britain, but it will hold greater relevance if a world title is on the line.