Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin: Boxing Odds, Picks & Prediction (2023)
When Anthony Joshua fights Jermaine Franklin live on DAZN on Saturday, he wants to leave a lasting impression as he makes his return to a prize fight many consider well overdue. Let’s take a closer look at how that might play out.
Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin: Boxing Preview, Odds, Picks & Prediction (2023)
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) vs. Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs)
Anthony Joshua made his O2 Arena debut in 2013, and the Watford-born athlete last competed there in 2016; since then, he has taken the field in football venues only. Joshua will now return to the place where it all started in an effort to challenge American power-puncher Jermaine Franklin for the belt.
Joshua is a former two-time unified heavyweight champion (24-3, 22 KOs). A former Olympic gold medalist, this will actually be the first time since 2015 (and his win over Raphael Zumbano Love) where Joshua will be competing without a title on the line. Joshua is now working with Derrick James, his third trainer since excluding Robert McCracken and Robert Garcia from his inner circle, in an effort to shake things up.
Joshua might be in a great position to compete for the title again with a victory, as he could next face Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, or Dillian Whyte in a rematch (AJ defeated Whyte in 2015). But right now, Franklin is his top focus.
Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) is a boxer from Saginaw, Michigan, who became a professional in 2015 and has won 14 fights by knockout since then. In a close matchup against Whyte in November, he was defeated by a majority decision. The orthodox boxer now seeks to outperform Joshua and elevate his standing within the heavyweight category of boxing.
Can Franklin achieve the unexpected?
Bottom Line
There are several potential angles for this heavyweight fight, a few of which might lead to a spectacular brawl.
Joshua’s fighting style might still restrict opponents to offer him an advantage, despite his detractors. Joshua has a 25% jab connect rate, lands the fifth-fewest power punches (6.6), and throws the sixth-fewest overall punches (39.4) per round. His opponents average 8.0 shots every round, which ranks them seventh in shot accuracy.
Franklin has great hand-eye coordination and on 606 total punches, he connected on 165 body blows (27.2%). He only hit Whyte with a single shot that was in the single digits once. Joshua needs to be on guard, because he hasn’t been battling recently from the inside, something Franklin will press here.
In the end, Joshua will show why he is in a different league and get this one over with inside the final bell.
Pick: Anthony Joshua by KO/TKO/DQ -330
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