By Gareth A Davies, at the O2 Arena
Anthony Joshua targeted a blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury after his points decision victory over Jermaine Franklin.
He said: “I try and provide for the fans. I know who they want. They said Tyson Fury; the ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World.
“If he’s listening, he knows my promoter; we’ve had dialogue before, so let’s continue this. We ain’t getting any younger.”
The judges scored the bout with Franklin 118-111, and 117-111 (twice) in favour of the two-time world champion.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter of 10 years, said: “We want the Fury fight. We believe it can be made. The nature of the victory was always going to be important, but he has the right to call out Fury or Deontay Wilder.”
New trainer Derrick James, after his first camp and fight with Joshua, added that “there is no rush” to fight Fury. It would be no surprise to see Joshua fight Dillian Whyte next. But the sport’s aficionados would prefer the biggest fights out there.
Still gun-shy
Against Franklin there were glimpses of the vulnerable Joshua, a dose of gun-shyness in the early rounds and some of the great attacks of old. There was superb fitness, and stamina. There was even a little pushing, shoving and animosity.
Apologising for the brief fracas after the final bell, Joshua said: “I’m calm; I appreciate everyone coming out this evening. Inside the ring, it is a different energy so I apologise to those watching. I respect Jermaine.”
He added: “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.”
Despite the lack of a knockout, Joshua totally outboxed the No 34 heavyweight in the world, for his first victory since December 2020, when he had stopped Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round with three heavyweight world titles on the line.
Since then, two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk had consigned Joshua to a rebuilding process under new trainer James, in Dallas Texas. Defeat would have cast Joshua into the wilderness, from which it might have been impossible to return.
Now, though, he can look ahead again to projecting himself into mega-money contests with the other leading heavyweights in the world. (The Telegraph)
