WelshDevilRob Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 (edited) ‘New Dawn’ Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin Quotes Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin came face to face for the first time since their launch press conference at the beginning of February this evening as they kicked off fight week at the ‘New Dawn’ launch party ahead of their huge Heavyweight clash at The O2 in London this Saturday April 1, shown live worldwide on DAZN. The rivals began fight week media activities at the brand new art’otel overlooking the iconic Battersea Power Station on the south bank of the River Thames in Nine Elms, Battersea, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. Former two-time unified Heavyweight Champion of the World Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) fights at The O2 in London for the first time since 2016 as he begins life under the tutelage of new head trainer Derrick James. ‘AJ’ returns to the scene of his first World Title win over Charles Martin to face another American contender in Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs). Saginaw’s ‘989 Assassin’ pushed Dillian Whyte all the way in a close points loss at Wembley’s OVO Arena last November and is relishing his shot against one of the biggest names in the sport. British megastar Joshua is ready to begin his ascent back to the top of the Heavyweight division after suffering back-to-back losses to pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk in London and Saudi Arabia. Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Sport Chairman “We’ve just done the promo shoots downstairs and Jermaine Franklin has a six pack. I don’t know where it has come from. He’s lost 24 pounds. He fought Dillian Whyte and had a nice little belly like most of us and all of a sudden he’s ripped to shreds. He’s talking the right language, he’s telling the guys down there that he’s going to knock ‘AJ’ the f**k out. “I think you’re going to see a great fight on Saturday and it is a dangerous fight. There’s a huge amount of pressure on Anthony Joshua on Saturday night and he’s got to stick one of this geezer early and hurt him. This is a real fight. If ‘AJ’ lets him get confident in this fight it is going to be a very difficult fight. “It’s going to be a completely full house at The O2 on Saturday, it’ll be absolutely rammed. It will be buzzing for ‘AJ’s’ ringwalk. We’re only five days away now. When he ringwalks, check out the energy in that arena, it is going to be electric.” Anthony Joshua “If Franklin possesses certain weaknesses I’ll be able to exploit them. It has been difficult over the past few fights to exploit people’s weaknesses because they’re very difficult to catch and pin down but hopefully I’ll be able to exploit Franklin’s weaknesses and show some of my old self. “At a certain level it’s hard to go into the ring and knock someone out within like ten seconds. There’s a process to getting that knockout and you have to be disciplined. I understand, there’s high expectations. People put their own expectations on other people. People put me in high regard – that’s where the pressure comes from, me having to deliver. I understand that and I’ll do my best for sure. “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, fighters. Hearing that final bell or hearing the ref count it out is such a high feeling that no amount of money can give you that feeling. It’s true. It’s a mad feeling. Each fight is a new chapter I’d say. Every chapter is so important. “If Jermaine were to be successful on Saturday night I’d give him the respect he deserves. I’ll make the decision if I want to fight on or not. I feel like I can make that decision. If I want to continue fighting I don’t think it’s up to anyone to dictate to me. I don’t think anyone can tell me what to do in my career anyway.” Jermaine Franklin On Dillian Whyte defeat: “I’m very strong mentally. My team and the fans made me feel okay about the decision. This is boxing, sometimes it happens in boxing. We don’t all get fair shakes. I’ve never really had a fair shake in my whole career. I didn’t cry about it, I didn’t complain about it, I just went back home and started working. You’ve got to knock them out or you’ve got to dominate them in conclusive fashion.” On size difference: “He’s only four inches taller than me. He’s 6’6″ and I’m 6’2″. I’ve been sparring big guys my whole career. This is nothing new to me.” On Andy Ruiz Jr comparison: “We’re two different fighters. Me and Andy are two different fighters. We don’t have the same style. Andy probably provides a little more pressure than I do, he fights a little more in spurts. I try to use my jab more and work inside/out.” On being overlooked: “I’ve always been overlooked. Personally in my opinion I’ve just got to go out there and show him that I’m not what they think I am. They call me a tune-up and they say I’m going to get knocked out in four or five rounds so I’m just coming here to kick ass and show the world this isn’t it.” On people saying Joshua should retire if he loses to him: “I find that disrespectful. People haven’t really seen me. I find it disrespectful that people think that low of me. They think I’m not a great fighter, they think I’m not a good fighter. I find it disrespectful but that is the kind of sport we’re in. We don’t get love like basketball, football and all the other sports. Boxing is more either you’re on top or you’re not.” Read more: https://www.ringnews24.com/2023/03/27/new-dawn-anthony-joshua-and-jermaine-franklin-quotes/ Edited March 28 by WelshDevilRob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 --- I'd say Eddie and the British public were impressed with how Franklin handled the still difficult Whyte. While I had Whyte winning a close fight, he had to dig down to do so. Franklin was brought in for Josh because he not only earned the respect of his team, but promises to provide quality rounds where Josh and his new trainer whose name escapes me at the moment can work on new strategies. Josh had such an epic storybook rise in boxing that it begged a downfall on a heroic scale. Usyk has proven his mettle beyond the pale both in and out of the ring, so it's up to Josh to rebuild going forward for a personal redemption of sorts. He's made his $$$ and could retire tomorrow in a life of luxury, yet willing for another go at what he does best, that is being a champion for the people. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted March 29 Share Posted March 29 I'm trying so hard not to laugh about this fight ...... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted March 30 Share Posted March 30 Does anyone think that, if Franklin legitimately outpoints AJ, (which could easily happen) that he can get a decision win? 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted April 1 Author Share Posted April 1 Anthony Joshua vs Jermain Franklin Running Order & weights 12 x 3 mins International Heavyweight contest ANTHONY JOSHUA 255.4 lbs v JERMAINE FRANKLIN 234.12 lbs (Watford, England) (Saginaw, USA) REad more: https://www.ringnews24.com/2023/03/31/anthony-joshua-vs-jermain-franklin-running-order-weights/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 *****SPOILERS***** / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / --- Josh prevails in a somewhat sloppy fight with excessive holding by the standard. Franklin undersized proved to be tough, awkward, and a bit dirty with his noggin now and again. Mutual animosity boiled over at the last bell requiring security guards, a minor fracas. Not for me to question why Josh still fights when back in the day Franklin would've succumbed inside 6 rounds. He's not physically shot, still physically formidable, but just doesn't seem to have mental fight coherency that was so natural in his youthful start. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bear Hugger Posted April 2 Share Posted April 2 He needed a win, not just to progress, but for his own doubts that he will have after the Usyk fights. It was a bit sloppy as LRR has already mentioned. I think he needs a couple more confidence boosters before he even thinks about Fury or Wilder. I think both would beat Joshua at the moment. I mean even the commentators were talking about back to basics. He is a silver and gold medal winner at the Olympics, and former two time unified heavyweight champion, he should know the basics by now... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 It wasn't the most entertaining fight but was still very watchable. Joshua seemed patient and was putting into practice footwork. Franklin always dangerous with counters, though that got less as the fight progressed. A win for Joshua and credit to Franklin for an excellent chin. Was too much holding but we've seen Heavyweights employ that in the past. Joshua's engine looked fine, in fact Franklin looked the more tired at the end. Joshua is with a new coach, so I hope he isn't thrust into a big fight next. Train in Texas and fight on an American card against a contender who has height. The potential big fights, for Joshua, are against tall men like Wilder, Joyce & Fury. Only 33, but needs to keep active. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted April 2 Author Share Posted April 2 On 3/30/2023 at 11:36 PM, Cableaddict said: Does anyone think that, if Franklin legitimately outpoints AJ, (which could easily happen) that he can get a decision win? Did you have Franklin winning? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 I had them both losing. Franklin clearly didn't have the power to hurt AJ, nor the footwork to overcome a 5" reach disadvantage. He did make it a pretty good fight though, I think we can all agree. But AJ looked even stiffer than usual, and afraid to commit. It wasn't quite Wlad-Povetkin, but it was way too safe and boring of a performance. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 --- I loved Wlad Povetkin with Wlad in the Lion's Den throwing Pov around like a Raggedy Ann Doll in between knocking him down in front of Putin. Not a sniffy purist fight, but an oldtime brawl where Wlad held all the Aces. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cableaddict Posted April 3 Share Posted April 3 20 hours ago, LondonRingRules said: Not a sniffy purist fight, but an oldtime brawl where Wlad held all the Aces. Well, Wlad sure held, we can agree on that. 😃 I forget, was it 164 times or 165? It's been a while since I literally counted them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRingRules Posted April 4 Share Posted April 4 --- Watch the fight. Pov coming in low head first all night. Protect yourselves at all times the final prefight ring command to fighters everywhere... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshDevilRob Posted April 4 Author Share Posted April 4 (edited) COMPUBOX Edited April 4 by WelshDevilRob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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