Nigerian-British boxer, Anthony Joshua achieved victory against his American opponent Jermaine Franklin in a crucial fight held in London on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
The fight was anticipated to determine Joshua’s future in boxing, and he had pledged to retire from the sport if he lost. In a unanimous points decision, three judges scored the bout 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111 in Joshua’s favour. This was Joshua’s first fight since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch in August of last year. Although he didn’t deliver a knockout blow against Franklin, Joshua now holds a record of 25 wins in 27 fights. Speaking to DAZN after the fight, he said, “It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck and dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out; respect to him, he did well. I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out.”
