RESULTS: ANTHONY JOSHUA CRUISES PAST JERMAINE FRANKLIN, WINS COMFORTABLE DECISION

By: Jay Calderon‍

On Saturday at the 02 Arena in London, England, and live on DAZN, former Heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua made relatively easy work of Jermaine Franklin over twelve mostly one-sided, pedestrian rounds.

In the opening frame, Joshua mostly dictated the terms with a jab and not much else. Franklin wasn't able to get much going as a result of the reach disadvantage. Though, he did manage to cause the nose of Joshua to bleed a bit before the round ended.

In the second, Joshua started well, landing a few right hands to open up the scoring. However, Franklin answered back before the round's end with a few right hands of his own. The third was more of the same, with a couple of big right hands, but Franklin moving in, looking to return the favor.

The fourth saw Joshua starting out with the jab once more, then turning that shot over into a left hook. Franklin was looking to close the distance, but was caught with two shots by AJ as the round came to an end. Swelling was begininng to form around the eye of Franklin, likely due to that consistent jab.

Joshua began the fifth with a nice right hand, and went back to dealing out the jab. With about a minute left in the frame, Joshua landed another right hand, but Franklin fired back well and scored with a right of his own.

Franklin landed well in the opening half of the sixth, landing a right to open up the scoring, and a counter shot a bit later. Franklin again landed a counter right hand when Joshua missed with the jab.

In the seventh, the jab was working once again for the Brit, who landed a couple quick ones early. Another jab set up a chippy right hand midway through the contest. The jab of Franklin was also working at times, causing Joshua to bleed from the lip as well. Joshua closed out the round with a left hook inside, then a 1-2 before the bell.

Joshua let his hands go a bit to start off the eighth, but was back to the jab or the next 90 seconds. It was becoming easy for Joshua, who would throw the jab, land or miss the follow up shot and lay on Franklin on the inside. AJ landed a decent right uppercut on the inside to end the round.

Franklin landed well to the body to start the ninth, but he was warned for getting rough on the inside. Both men seemed comfortable tying up on the inside, smothering much of the work for either fighter. Joshua missed with the jab, as he had been missing that shot a bit more as the rounds progressed. Franklin timed one of those misses, landing a solid right hand in return. Still, Joshua took it well enough.

Joshua began the scoring in the tenth, throwing a solid combination that allowed a right hand to get home. Right hand, then a left uppercut also scored for Joshua midway through the round. The pair trade solid right hands on the inside, but it was Joshua landing a couple more rights a few seconds later. A right, then a left for Joshua closed out the round.

In the eleventh, Joshua scored with a solid body blow, before throwing and finding the mark with the right uppercut. The uppercut landed once more, but Franklin did manage to land with a counter shot. When in close, Franklin landed a couple of quick body shots, but neither seemed to trouble Joshua much.

In the final round of action, Joshua still seemed fresh, throwing the jab well and looking to set up a fight-ending power shot. The pair had been jawing at one another all night, and were doing just that in the middle of the round as things got rough at times on the inside. Franklin was backing up much more, looking to catch AJ coming in. However, Joshua managed to get the right hand in, and an uppercut a few moments later before the round and fight came to an end.

After the contest, the pair had to be restrained as they didn't seem happy with one another to say the least.

In the end, scores were 118-111, and 117-111 twice, all in favor of Anthony Joshua. JOB had it 118-110 in favor of Joshua.

OTHER RESULTS:

Fabio Wardley def. Michael Polite Coffie, 4TKO (Heavyweight)

Austin Williams def. River Wilson-Bent, 8TKO (Middleweight)

Gal Yafai def. Moises Calleros, 4TKO (Flyweight)

Campbell Hatton def. Louis Fielding, 1KO (Lightweight)