Coming off consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua gets a winnable matchup against Jermaine Franklin. This is a “tune-up fight” for Joshua and the boxing lines indicate that: he is a massive favorite and should not lose on home soil again. Franklin lost a contentious decision to Dillian Whyte, a man Joshua knocked out, and is a step down from “AJ’s” previous opponents.
Does Joshua Still Have It?
Losing twice to the same opponent can have a mental impact on any boxer. But Joshua can become a champion again. The man has been near-peerless in his career, from winning the Olympic gold medal on home soil (albeit controversially) to becoming a unified champion.
He’s also had favorable conditions, with most bouts taking place on his turf, and he gets another one vs. Franklin. However, he can’t afford to look past this underdog, even with him trying to insert himself between the failed Usyk-Fury proposal. But Joshua is once again bigger, stronger, and faster than his opponent.
🗣️ “Looking at the champions, it’s just a shambles”
Anthony Joshua on the fight between Tyson Fury & Oleksandr Usyk falling through. pic.twitter.com/qebZQV1LtF
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 29, 2023
The best part is AJ can just look to starch his opponent. He does not need to get into a chess match. This is usually how Joshua shines… if he’s still got the same killer instinct. And working with Derrick James, the man who revitalized Jermell Charlo following his loss, Joshua is on the right path. So expect Joshua to deliver as an overwhelming boxing pick.
Franklin Should Box Like He’s Got Nothing Lose
For Franklin, the underdog will need to go into this bout like it’s his last. He knows Las Vegas boxing odds are all against him, and he’s got nothing more than a “puncher’s chance.” But it’s still a chance, and Joshua is not invincible, as Andy Ruiz Jr. proved.
Franklin is already getting a massive payday here. With that in his pocket, he can take the jobber’s way out by shelling up and boxing conservatively to a decision victory. Folks will rave about his toughness and how he “took Joshua to a decision.” But it would make better boxing news if he took the fight to Joshua by biding his time and attacking him when he leaves himself open.
Joshua is a better athlete than he is a boxer. Hence, he relies on his explosiveness and speed to outbox opponents. While Franklin can’t match Joshua punch-for-punch, he’ll have a few opportunities to catch AJ. And when he does, Franklin is still a heavyweight and can hurt the Briton. That’s worth betting online for those hunting for upsets.
Joshua vs Franklin Head-to-Head
Joshua is significantly larger than Franklin. He is four inches taller and has a 5.5-inch reach advantage. Both men box in the orthodox stance. Franklin is four years younger than Joshua.
Joshua vs Franklin Fight Information
- Records: Joshua (24-3-0, 22 KOs) vs Franklin (21-1-0, 14 KOs)
- Location: O2 Arena, London, England
- Day/Time: Saturday, April 1, 5:30 p.m. ET
- Joshua vs Franklin Live stream: Box Live
Joshua vs Franklin Betting Lines
Joshua vs Franklin Picks and Prediction
This should be a better matchup for Joshua than the two Usyk bouts. Franklin is not nearly as technical as Usyk and will rely on Joshua to make too many mistakes. While he could catch Joshua, he will get outboxed here. But he is also durable, and Joshua has not been aggressive in going for knockouts since the Wladimir Klitschko fight. The best bet online is for this to go past seven rounds.
Anthony Joshua is listed at -1300 in our Vegas Boxing lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Joshua, you have a chance to win $8. Jermaine Franklin is +750, offering a chance to win $750 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Joshua a 92.86% chance to win, with Franklin at 11.76%.
