Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin round by round full fight reports
BBN are reporting live from ringside at tonight's crunch heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin at The O2 in London.
AJ's career hangs in the balance as he not only needs a win against Franklin, after back to back defeats, but he needs it to be a destructive performance in order to get his name back in the world title mix once again.
Check back here from 4pm for all the blow by blow action:
16:00 Live on Before the Bell
6×3 Heavyweight contest
Peter Kadiru vs Alen Lauriolle
Back to winning ways for Hamburg heavyweight Peter Kadiru as opponent Alen Lauriolle retires on his stool at the end of the first in the event opener.
Fight 2
8×3 Heavyweight contest
Juergen Uldedaj vs Benoit Huber
15-0 Albanian Uldedaj recently won the WBC Youth World cruiserweight title and now he comes to the UK for his second fight, having fought at the York Hall in February winning by TKO, his fourth stoppage in a row. 36-year-old Huber is the reigning Swiss cruiserweight champion and in round two he was showboating with his hands down but he ate a few big right hands as payment.
The Swiss switch-hitter was enjoying himself, playing up to the crowd. His rangey arms meant he could throw plenty from range to keep Uldedaj off him but he was constantly being stalked. He caught a big right on the back of the head as he turned from Uldedaj's shot in the fourth and took a second to complain about it. Huber was pawing with his left jab, but Uldedaj just teed off with a big left hook that bounced off the top of his head. Huber landed a big left hook to the body in that round.
In the fifth, Uldedaj caught a one-two on his gloves and instantly replied with a flush left hook, then he landed another head-rocking one-two shortly after. Huber starts dancing the Ali shuffle. He's soon in the corner and a rib-rippling left to the body lands from Uldedaj. Then another left sinks in to the Huber's body but with less potency.
Uldedaj looked a little frustrated by Huber's antics by the sixth. Huber had a little more success in the sixth and seventh, landing a nice right uppercut in the seventh.
Round eight started with Uldedaj countering with a big left hook that sent Huber stumbling sideways. The problem is that he doesn't throw enough, always waiting far too long to set up each shot.
Then it's first upset of the night as Benoit Huber runs to the blue corner to celebrate his surprise win, scored 77-75 by Howard Foster. Stunned Uldedaj only has himself to blame for not being quick enough to act and force the action. Stalks persistently but throws sporadically.
Fight 3
8×3 Super-Featherweight contest
Jordan Flynn vs Kane Baker
8-0 Jordan Flynn is taking a step up in opponent here against former Midlands lightweight champion and English title contender Kane Baker, who is just his second winning opponent he's faced. He answered the first round well, countering the aggressive Baker as he came in with accurate short right hooks on the inside.
Birmingham's Baker is busier in the second and gets a lot of success. Flynn steps off in the final minute and lands some nice jabs. The 27-year-old from Oxford looks very stylish on the back foot when he's countering with a bit of room.
Flynn starts the fourth picking Baker off on the outside but it's not long before Baker draws him into a toe to toe firefight. Flynn gets the better of him on the inside. Then Flynn gets too greedy trying to penetrate Baker's guard with multiple uppercuts on the ropes and receives a crunching right hook to the left side of his face. With only one knockout in 28 fights for Baker, Flynn doesn't show any sign of vulnerability but it was a very good shot. The instructions to young Jordan from his corner was to stop loading up.
Flynn looked a little less sharp in the fourth, perhaps a sign the high tempo had got to him. Baker also went down a gear and wasn't pressuring as much or stepping in as close. Flynn held his feet for too long and caught a flush right hand to the chin from Baker. Then the pair lock horns again. Flynn looks better boxing from range but every now and again he holds his feet and keeps his head on the firing line. Baker gets through with big right and left hooks in the fifth and that was a big round for Kane from the away corner. He couldn't miss with his right hook.
Baker loads up and misses with the right so Flynn bounces a one-two off his head, then Baker lands that right later when Flynn was on the ropes, but the Brummie is cut over the right eye. Flynn creates space between them in the second half of the seventh and looks classy.
Flynn could be ahead but will all come down to this final round. Flynn works the body in the eighth but he's still getting caught with that right hand from Baker. It's possible Flynn won the last two rounds to get the nod on the scorecards. Baker's corner looks elated with their fighter's performance, who could hardly miss with that right hand all fight long. Maybe it was exhaustion that prevented Flynn from seeing that shot coming or having the breath to move out of it's way.
77-75 to still undefeated Jordan Flynn, which was a fair score despite how close the contest was. Now 9-0, Flynn goes to his corner to celebrate with Sunny Edwards.
Fight 4
4×3 Welterweight contest
Ziyad Almaayouf vs Georgi Velichkov
Both boxers Ziyad Almaayouf and Georgi Velichkov gave fans a very busy, entertaining four-round scrap.
It's been a tricky fight for Almaayouf against a sharp, counter-punching southpaw. It's been a war of attrition in there. Almaayouf told by his corner, with Paul Smith helping, that he has to finish strongly to get the win.
Howard Foster scored the bout 39-37 to Saudi Arabia's Ziyad Almaayouf, who moves up to 3-0.
Fight 5
8×3 Heavyweight contest
John Hedges vs Daniel Bocianski
Completing the early undercard line-up is fresh-faced 'The Gentleman' John Hedges. The 20-year-old from Essex is trained by Mark Tibbs and is up against 11-2 winning fighter, Daniel Bocianski from Poland, who UK fight fans will remember from his bout with Tommy Fury in 2022 when he went down from a straight right hand in the fifth of six.
Southpaw Hedges was sharp and elusive, controlling the fight from distance. The youngster's sharp southpaw jabs were landing often and he was reactive to anything coming back from the Polish opponent. He was becoming increasingly comfortable by round two.
Good work from the flashy Hedges in the start of the third with a quick, stinging flurry. Hedges using his long levers to pepper Bocianski from range. He has a maturity beyond his years, perhaps credit to his top trainer Tibbs in the corner.
It's not been a free flowing fight, they pair have tangled up a lot, but then Bocianski looks troubled in the fourth and Hedges follows up, but it gets messy again and referee Kieran McCann has to give them a talking to.
Fantastic right uppercut gets through under pressure from Hedges in the seventh, who is almost in cruise control here. The Essex man is enjoying himself in there tonight. Landed a lovely one-two straight down the pipe and worked to the body in the final round.
Hedges dropped a round a round in his pro debut at the young age of just 18, but hasn't lost a single round since. A tradition he continues as Kieran McCann scored the bout 80-72. Hedges moves up to 8-0 with a mature, composed, solid performance.
19:00 LIVE ON DAZN
10×3 Middleweight contest
Austin Williams vs River Wilson-Bent
American middleweight sensation 'Ammo' Williams was landing fast, sharp shots down the middle at Wilson-Bent, a former Midlands champion who lost out on the English title narrowly to Tyler Denny. There appeared to be a gap between the levels in this pair in the opening rounds, but River was still having flashes of success. Austin's last two fights went the distance, but the three before that all ended via stoppage. Fellow Briton Keiron Conway went 10-rounds with Williams last September but did touch down in the ninth round.
The pair clash heads in the fourth and opens up a cut on River's right eye. Williams comes out the traps fast in the fifth, smelling blood. Southpaw Williams was landing well with his backhand, but the fight had flashes of action but at times a bit tepid.
Wilson-Bent doubles up the jab with a right hand to land a three-punch combo in the last minute of the sixth stanza. But then a beautifully timed left hook to the body downed Wilson-Bent in the first minute of the seventh, ducking under a jab to land it, then River deliberately spits out his gumshield to find time. Wilson-Bent fires back valiantly but he's under pressure. They tangle up and messily fall to the floor in the final 30. Somehow, River survives the round.
Wilson-Bent looks tentative at the start of the eighth, Williams just looking to land his left. Then the towell comes in after one minute to save their man, Wilson-Bent.
Fight 7
8×3 Super-Lightweight contest
Campbell Hatton vs Louis Fielding
Good, bright start to this bout, the action kicking off from the off. Campbell gets a nice left hook in to the body while they're exchanging, then a short left hook to the same area downs Fielding and it's all over! The replay shows Hatton rolling under a right hook within close to land the short, potent left to the midriff that had a slight delayed effect for a couple of seconds.
Hatton wins in 1:29 of the opening round, his quickest win of his career. Eddie Hearn said post-fight that he hopes Campbell starts to get the respect he deserves after such a blistering performance.
Fight 8
10×3 Flyweight contest
Galal Yafai vs Moises Calleros
The pair fight in close quarters, each landing and having a lot of success, but Yafai's shots seem to be more thudding, plus more accurate and damaging.
Galal is so accurate and his shots take a big effect in the fourth and downed Calleros, and when he gets up, referee Kieran McCann has seen enough and won't allow the Mexican to continue. He was really wobbling, it was the right call, albeit looking early to some. It was a right hook on the chin that stiffened his legs and another four or five shots landed clean.
Chief Support
10×3 vacant WBA Continental Heavyweight Title
Fabio Wardley vs Michael Polite-Coffie
Wardley straight out the corner pawing with his jab against the southpaw and lands a long right hand from range. Coffie looks a lot bigger and heavier. Coffie tries a counter right but it glances Wardley. Bit of a tepid first round.
Good jab from Coffie, Wardley waiting too long to throw. Then a good left hook from Coffie. Wardley a little too tentative here. Wardley throwing the right more towards the end of the second.
Wardley starts the third in closer range and the pair square off in the corner. Coffie flicking out his jab at speed for such a big man. Good round for the American.
Good right hand lands from Wardley and he follows up with an unending flurry which Coffie looked comfortable under but the referee jumped in to stop it and Coffie instantly complained. There were three straight right hands in a row but Coffie opted to stay there despite getting tagged and the stoppage looked very premature, the American was absolutely fine and showed no signs of being hurt.
Main Event
12×3 Heavyweight contest
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin
Joshua on his jab and holding his feet. Bit of a tepid first round, nothing much to report. Franklin doubling up on his jab. AJ doesn't look much different yet after a world class training camp with Derrick James.
Good jab from Joshua followed by a quick right hand. AJ tries an uppercut, misses. Joshua moving nicely here but eats a Franklin right hand. Nice short right hook to the body from AJ in a great second round where the pair where each successful.
Joshua trying to throw that right hand in the third. AJ's jab is strong, but Franklin is sharp too. The American tries a series of straight shots, but no power behind them and barely get past the gloves. Franklin comes in with a flurry but AJ tucks up well to catch most on his gloves. Joshua throws a left hook, misses, then Franklin replies with a triple jab.
Round four, AJ tries a one-two, doesn't quite land, Franklin responds with a double jab. This fight has not even gotten started yet. Joshua with a successful single strong left hook.
It's still a bit of a tepid affair that looks like it could ignite at any moment. AJ holding his feet in the sixth trying to land something big. Big right hand from Franklin but has no effect.
For everyone that has waited all night for this fight, it hasn't been worth the wait so far. Joshua looks fearful to throw anything in numbers. Tries a left uppercut, misses… again. Tony Bellew has Joshua winning all seven rounds from his view at ringside.
Joshua lands a good right hand but still not much action to report as we go into the eighth. AJ lets his hands go a bit more in the eighth, but it's a very messy round. At no point is Joshua putting his punches toghether. It's all single shots.
Good action in the 10th, both boxers throwing their all. AJ landing his right uppercut on the inside, then there's a great single right to the head of Franklin. Best round yet but it doesn't make up for nine rounds of nothing. AJ tries again with the uppercut, this time from range, but just glances.
Franklin enthused in the 11th, lands a right hand in the exchange. Over 30 minutes into this fight and AJ still looks too cautious and scared to throw. His left hook is laboured and misses. Franklin doubles the jab again and then lands up top with a right hand.
Joshua again lands a right uppercut in the 12th. More clinching, which has made for a boring fight all round. The bell sounds for the end of the final round and it's a clear Joshua win. However, no knockout win will likely dent his credibility and confidence even further, sadly.
Joshua wins with scores of 118-111, 117-11, 117-11, in an uneventful contest.
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