Tag: Anthony Joshua

Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua to face Dillian Whyte on August 12 at Wembley

Six years after going down on technical knockout, Heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte has had a rethink and now expressed his readiness to agree to the financial terms for a rematch with two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua on August 12 at Wembley Stadium.

Whyte agent’s had earlier snubbed the contractual document but decided to take a second look at it.

“Earlier, we heard that our proposal was far from what they expected, so we didn’t even begin to do the second one. Now Dillian says he will accept it, so we sent him a contract to sign. If the deal is signed, the fight will take place in London,” Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn said.

Eddie Hearn claims Dillian Whyte will receive a contract for a rematch with long-term rival Anthony Joshua on August 12.

“We need to move at pace but if Dillian is serious, that fight can 100 per cent happen. This contract is not going to be difficult, it’s a set purse. There are no travel or extreme media obligations, it’s pretty simple. I would love the fight to happen and hopefully it will,” Hearn said.

Hearn’s response came after Whyte spoke to talkSPORT earlier on Friday. The boxer said; “The fight’s just collapsed, there’s been no communication on the fight. It’s just weird, it just never seemed real from the start.

“Joshua’s in a position of transition and they don’t want him to have a serious fight, but they’re trying to keep his name good and make it look like he’s trying to have big fights. We’ve had one three-line email about the fight, no conversations at all.

“We’ve been trying to contact Eddie Hearn for one month, multiple phone calls and emails, they’ve just gone missing. I’ve never felt the fight was real, I’ve been negotiating with Eddie Hearn for years, I know when Eddie wants a fight, he calls you, he bugs you. I haven’t spoken to Eddie Hearn for one month,” Whyte said.

The first pro fight between these boxers took place in December 2015. Joshua won by TKO in the seventh round. In recent performances in the ring, both boxers won on points against Jermain Franklin.

After facing Whyte, Joshua is hoping to meet former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in December. The proposed fight is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, with an undisputed heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk potentially on the same card.

June 25, 2023
Joshua vs Wilder: Heavyweight clash set for December

Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua could head to the rings in December 2023 if all contract talks go well between the management of both boxers.

Joshua has said that a potential fight with Deontay Wilder is ‘95 percent done’ on his side and could take place in December if the deal goes through.

Talks are ongoing over a proposed ‘tournament’ in Saudi Arabia which could also involve Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fighting on the same card.

Recall that Joshua claimed his first win in over two years after defeating Jermaine Franklin in his last fight on April 1, having previously fallen to two consecutive losses to Usyk in 2021 and 2022.

He then announced he would not return to the ring until December, ruling out a summer showdown with either Fury or Dillian Whyte.

Joshua now looks set to face off against the former WBC World Champion Wilder at the end of the year in a fight that could have happened when they were both champions.

“From my experiences with Saudi, if they say they are going to do something, they are more than likely going to do it. So, that’s one end of it,” Joshua told Metro.

“And then you let the other guys do what they do. But as the man behind the scenes, it is important to start getting ready. In terms of it getting delivered, I honestly believe it is 95 percent there.

“He is good, I respect him, I don’t undermine him. That will make me raise my game. I respect what he has done and what he has done in this division. It is hard to become a champion, and he did it, so I have to respect that,” the British-Nigerian said.

April 22, 2023
BOXING: “Defeating Franklin ‘ll be one of the greatest comebacks in boxing history” -Buhari prays for Anthony Joshua

President Muhammadu Buhari has prayed that the victory of Nigerian-born boxer, Anthony Joshua, in last night’s boxing bout against American professional boxer, Jermaine Franklin, would be a stepping stone to one of the greatest comebacks in boxing history.

Commending the triumph of the gifted pugilist over a formidable opponent, President Buhari wished Joshua a bright future and a fulfilling career.

In a statement, late Saturday by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said the Nigeria-born boxer’s resilient spirit was commendable.

Extolling the mentality of Joshua, who did not allow personal setbacks and obstacles to dent his resilient spirit, the President disclosed that the former three-time world heavyweight champion had demonstrated that by hard work, patience, dedication, persistence and humility, those who dared, would win.

President Buhari lauded Joshua for his courage and discipline, on and off the ring and prayed that his success would be a stepping stone to one of the greatest comebacks in boxing history.

The President believed that Joshua’s accomplishments on the world stage would continue to inspire many upcoming professionals, particularly sportsmen and women, not to be discouraged by temporary defeats and setbacks.

He wished Joshua a bright future and a fulfilling career.

Joshua returned to winning ways after a unanimous points triumph against an American, Franklin, at the London 02 Arena, Saturday night.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Joshua marked his return to action with a unanimous decision victory over Jermaine Franklin, the judges scoring it 118-111, 117-111, 117-111 in favour of the former two-time world champion.

Joshua, 33, went into the ring having lost three of his previous five contests, which included consecutive losses to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua regularly landed with his left jab and caught Franklin, 29, on several occasions with his powerful right but the American stood firm – and on occasion cheekily poked his tongue out at his far bigger and taller opponent.

There was a bizarre moment in the final 12th round when Joshua pushed his head into Franklin sparking an angry reaction from Lorenzo Adams, the strength and conditioning coach of the US boxer, who pushed the Finchley fighter.

April 2, 2023
O2 Arena: Anthony Joshua wins Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision (See actions)

The heavyweight boxing match contested between former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin has been won by the former by a unanimous decision.

The bout, which was held at the O2 Arena in Greenwich, London, in Round 2, had Joshua bleeding from the nose.

Following Joshua’s back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the latter in August of 2022 in Saudi Arabia, Tyson Fury called out Anthony Joshua for a fight in November or December of that same year.

However, the fight failed to come to fruition, due to sponsorship issues. Franklin fought Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena in London, England on November 26, 2022.

Whyte won by majority decision, although the decision of that fight was controversial with many scoring the fight as a draw or for Franklin winning.

Looking forward to showcasing his comeback, Franklin, again, suffered another loss to Joshua.

See actions in the fight below:
Round 3

Joshua misses with his right but Franklin responds by charging him down but nothing lands.

Round 4:

The fight is picking up but still no real danger landed either way.

Round 5:

Good uppercut from Franklin after AJ let his hands go. AJ is leading but is still bleeding.

Round 6:

Solid jab from AJ and a powerful left uppercut that shook Franklin.

Round 7:

Franklin is now watchful, parrying Joshua’s deadly hooks, as AJ tries to squeeze through a straight right hand to the face but Franklin escaped it. Franklin throws a left & right combo but AJ fires back.

Round 8

Joshua increases his pace in the eighth round, and pressures Franklin rigorously for the first time in the fight. Marcus McDonnell stopped the fight from becoming messy, this gave Franklin a little breathing space. Franklin moves up on the inside and drags Joshua to the ropes, with the Brit keen to get back into the middle of the ring. AJ came on powerfully smoking but Franklin is forced to hold him. More clinching and grabbing by nothing boxers.

Round 9:

Joshua secured some good punches as the two men clinched up. Franklin got going reckless, threw his head around in the clinch, drawing another warning from the referee. The clinch parade continued throughout the round.

Round 10:

AJ lands uppercut and a nice hook. Good work from AJ. The round no doubt, belongs to AJ.

Round 11

Joshua landed a huge uppercut and right hand. AJ got the big shots with the right precision.

Round 12:

A big right hook forces Franklin to hold on

April 2, 2023
Anthony Joshua bounces back, defeats Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision

Anthony Joshua bounced back from two straight defeats to edging out Jermaine Franklin by decision in a cagey affair in London thereby breaking the London jinx.

Joshua was returning to the ring for the first time since losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last year, and a win was essential in order to get his heavyweight career back on track.

And it was indeed the Brit who had his hand raised but he was surprisingly taken the distance by the rugged American who refused to give the Briton an inch.

Joshua defeated the American via a unanimous decision from the judges as their score cards read; 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111 in his favour.

The first round began with Joshua in the ascendency in a chess match-style opening to affairs as he looked to judge the distance and work his leading left jab. After exchanging heated words in centre ring between the rounds, Joshua started to open up slightly in the second stanza with the raucous crowd delighted, but blood came trickling from the nose of the Briton after a series of neat jabs from Franklin.

Joshua continued his impressive style that ensured he didnt lose guard all through the 12 rounds to record a win first time in two years.

The bout was a make or mar one for Joshua who had promised to retire from the sport should he lose his third straight fight.

The win would potentially put him in a good corner to set up potential clashes with the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and many others great heavyweight boxers.

In his post fight analysis Joshia said “It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck-and-dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out,”

“I respect 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.”

Joshua has now won 25 fights, with 22 stoppages, and lost three since turning professional in 2013.

It is a second defeat for Franklin, 29, having lost to Briton Dillian Whyte in November.

Joshua’s next opponent will be announced in due course before the year runs to an end but a potential bout with Deontay Wilder could be on the cards.

April 2, 2023
Boxing: Joshua at heaviest career fighting weight against Franklin today

No room for defeat for Anthony Joshua‘s fight against American Jermaine Franklin

. The British star of Nigerian heritage will challenge Saturday (Apr. 1st) Franklin at the O2 Arena in London.

The former unified world heavyweight champion tipped the scales at over 110 kg in front of hundreds of fans on Friday, when his contender weighed in at just a little over 106 kg.

Since a series of defeats, Joshua has fallen to the 5th place in the world rankings but promises to fight back.

‘I know I’ve got the possibility of doing it, one hundred percent. But there’s a process to get there, I just follow my process. Pray to God, and what will be, will be.”

If Joshua wins, his promoter expects him to fight again in June and December, with a clash against WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Joshua is a two-time former unified world heavyweight champion, having held the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO titles twice between 2016 and 2021.

At the regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2015 to 2016.

As of October 2022, Joshua is ranked as the world’s second-best active heavyweight by BoxRec, third by The Ring, and fourth by Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and ESPN, as well as the sixth-best active boxer, pound for pound, by BoxRec.

He has been ranked by BoxRec as among the world’s top 10 heavyweights since 2014 and was ranked at No. 1 at the conclusion of 2016 and 2017.

Joshua’s knockout-to-win percentage stands at 91.67%, with an overall knockout percentage of 63.64% in world heavyweight title fights.

However, Franklin fought Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena in London, England on November 26, 2022. Whyte won by majority decision, although the decision of that fight was controversial with many scoring the fight as a draw or for Franklin winning.

April 1, 2023
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin: Five major talking points

Anthony Joshua’s career is on the line this weekend against Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena, the boxing has been tagged a make or mar bout for the one time rave of the moment.

The main event is expected to begin around 5:30 p.m. ET on DAZN.

Anthony Joshua (24-3) has lost his two fights to heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, including a split-decision loss to Usyk in his last outing this past August.

Jermaine Franklin (21-1) is also looking to rebound from his first career loss in his last outing. Franklin lost to Dillian Whyte via majority decision this past November.

Immediately after losing to Usyk

His erratic behaviour in the direct aftermath of the second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk he regrets, but he didn’t wallow in self pity for long.

Yes, it was massively disappointing but it wasn’t as dark a time as you’d think.

“It wasn’t too dark because I’ve always just got on with it, you can’t stop, stopping is a luxury,” he says.

“When you’re under pressure you put expectations on yourself I didn’t have time to stop but in those quiet times when I’m sitting there and questioning myself I definitely had to soul search a bit.

“Questioning myself, how do I get better, what am I looking for, what’s the purpose, why did I act like that (after the fight), if it happened again how could I do better?

Career Ending Fight ?

Anthony Joshua has said that he would be quitting boxing altogether should he lose his third straight fight against Jamie Franklin today.

The boxer is of the opinion that today’s bout can make or mar his career as a professional boxer but admits that he’s well prepared for it.

Joshua’s Rank dropping

For the first time in seven years — and 13 fights — Joshua isn’t competing with a heavyweight title on the line. Once the fighter to beat in the heavyweight division, Joshua is now No. 4 in ESPN’s rankings behind Tyson Fury, Usyk and Deontay Wilder. The 33-year-old meets American contender Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London in what could be considered a rebuilding fight for a boxer looking to rediscover his form.

Predictions from Boxing Coaches and analyst

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn: “I’d say Joshua wins by stoppage inside seven rounds. I’m going for rounds four to six. It’s been a while since we’ve seen an early AJ stoppage but I think you’ll see one.

Unified light-middleweight champion Natasha Jonas: “AJ wins for me. I think he stops him in the middle rounds.”

5 Live analyst Richie Woodhall: “I think this is brilliant matchmaking. Franklin is only 6ft 2in. He’s fairly slow on his feet. I think this is the fight where Anthony Joshua can really shine. And really get in people’s thinking again about being the best heavyweight in the world.”

Olympic champion Lauren Price: “I’m going for an AJ stoppage. An explosive knockout would be good but he needs to win in style. It will be good for his confidence and in front of a home crowd.”

Former featherweight champion Kid Galahad: “AJ knocks him out inside five round. He’ll look sharp and devastating. I expect more focused work to the body under the stewardship of Derrick James.”

April 1, 2023
Heavyweight Boxing: Anthony Joshua’s April 1st opponent emerges

British boxer of Nigerian descent and former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua’s next boxing opponent has emerged.

The boxer is set to face America’s Jermaine Franklin as he makes his return to the boxing ring on April 1 at the 02 Arena in London and fans are already anticipating seeing the British-Nigerian triumph over the American in the bout.

Franklin lost for the first time in his heavyweight career after losing a hard-fought majority decision loss to Joshua’s rival, Dillian Whyte, which was the first defeat on the 29-year-old’s 22-fight record.

Recall that Joshua’s second world title reign was ended by a unanimous decision loss to Usyk in September 2021, while the Ukrainian retained the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts with a split decision victory in their rematch last August.

Talks are at an advanced stage for Usyk to share the ring with WBC king Tyson Fury in the next few months, while Joshua kicks off his career rebuild April 1.

Saleh Fawaz, CEO of Nigeria’s leading boxing promotional and management company, Saleh Gloves Promotions, told pressmen he believes the fight is perfect to get Joshua back on track and believes the 33-year-old can win the bout.

“It is a good fight. I didn’t think it was a good idea for him to jump into a huge opponent like (Deontay) Wilder, Fury, right away, so I think it is a good fight to get back into the ring and to try and get back to winning ways,”

“I am expecting Joshua to win the fight, but he should also respect Franklin, who fought Whyte last year and went the distance. Unlike Joshua, who only fought once last year, Franklin fought twice and had been inactive for two years. So, this is a sort of comeback for both of them, but Joshua, who knocked out Whyte should be able to beat him with his skillset and longer reach,” Fawaz said.

Joshua’s manager, Eddie Hearn, had previously hinted that a third consecutive loss could signal the end of Joshua’s career and Fawaz agrees with the promoter.

“Because of his losses and poor performances of recent, the ball is not in his court to get the next big fight and it will be all over for him if he loses this fight, even his promoter, Eddie Hearn, was saying that and it is true,” Fawaz added.

January 26, 2023
Heavyweight Boxing: Joshua’s opponent to be unveiled next week

British boxer of Nigeria descent and two time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is expected to announce his comeback opponent next week.

Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn are finalizing the contract talks for the fighter’s next opponent following an agreed date of April 1st, 2023.

The 33-year-old has not fought since August’s rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk which made it back-to-back defeats to the Ukrainian after a previous loss in September 2021.

Joshua’s last victory came over two years ago when he took down Kubrat Pulev.

Tyson Fury wanted a fight with Anthony Joshua in December 2022 but it didn’t see the light of the day as both fighter’s promoters couldn’t agree on a deal.

Fury had to settle for Derek Chisora in a thrilling heavyweight battle.

Fury batters brave Chisora over 10 brutal rounds. Tyson Fury retained his WBC heavyweight title with a one-sided beatdown of Derek Chisora which ended with a 10th-round stoppage

However, Joshua’s promoter Hearn is now keen to secure a big-name opponent who can put Joshua back on track to fight the likes of Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.

There had been talk of a brutal battle against Filip Hrgovic, but he has been ordered to face Andy Ruiz Jr in an IBF eliminator.

Meanwhile, Hearn has also effectively ruled out Otto Wallin and Demsey McKean after revealing Joshua does not want to take on another southpaw since it doesn’t align with his plans to face other orthodox fighters.

That could leave Jermaine Franklin as the man to fight Joshua on April Fool’s Day, with the American looking to avenge November’s London defeat to Joshua’s rival, Dillian Whyte.

However, fans won’t have to wait too long to find out the former champ’s next opponent, as Hearn is currently finalising contracts with a plan to confirm the bout next week.

“(Franklin) is definitely in the mix. Demsey McKean is still in the mix,” he told Boxing Social.

“The link-up with a new trainer means a southpaw fighter, even though Joshua just boxed one of them twice, is not ideal. When you look at the future for Anthony Joshua, the future revolves around Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte. They’re three orthodox fighters. It is likely that he will face an orthodox fighter next.

“I think Jermaine Franklin is a great fighter. People say ‘it’s definitely Franklin’. Nothing is signed and agreed with. But Franklin is coming off a fight where it was very close with Whyte. Some people felt he won that fight.”

A blockbuster summer rematch with Whyte is believed to be in the offing for the former unified world champion, provided he successfully emerges from his comeback bout this spring.

January 21, 2023
Heavyweight Boxing: Deontay Wilder looks in Joshua’s direction

Deontay Wilder is looking in Antony Joshua’s direction in what he describes a heavyweight showdown and the biggest fight in the world.

Wilder said it was a matter of fight before the biggest heavyweight boxing bout between them comes to life.

The Bronze Bomber will return to the ring for the first time this weekend after suffering a trilogy defeat to WBC champion Tyson Fury.

Recall that Wilder lost two of his last three heavyweight boxing bout after recording 42 wins.

12 years and 10 months into his professional boxing career, Deontay Wilder has fought 45 times with 42 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.

Meanwhile, Wilder will be hoping to claim his 42nd KO against Helenius on October 15 and claims he could face Joshua soon after.

Speaking to Kate Abdo on The Good Fight, Wilder said: ‘I’m still in the business, Anthony Joshua’s still in the business.

“People always tell me, ‘When you gonna fight Joshua?’ That’s the biggest fight in the world between us, still. So it ain’t ‘if’, it’s just ‘when’.”

The American boxer said he needed some time away from the ring to process the back-to-back defeats in 2020 and 2021 as they were the only losses of his professional career.

A lot of boxing enthusiasts expected Wilder to retire from boxing but the Bronze Bomber has put his retirement plans away with his October 15 bout with Helenius

A victory over Helenius would propel him closer to the heavyweight summit once more and tee up potential showdowns with the likes of Anthony Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr and Dillian Whyte.

However, when asked who he would like to fight if he was given the choice, Wilder said Oleksandr Usyk.

The American heavyweight said: “Of course, if I get to choose I will fight Usyk. Or Andy Ruiz because they are both a title shot. Who wouldn’t.

October 13, 2022