Most expect Anthony Joshua will score a stoppage victory over short-notice replacement Robert Helenius this weekend, especially with the Deontay Wilder-sized carrot that may be lingering ringside in London on Saturday night. These are the same people who assumed he’d crush Jermaine Franklin in April too, so what happened that night in his first fight under new trainer Derrick James?
Joshua beat Franklin, but you were left wanting more
118-11, 117-111, 117-111: Joshua bt. Franklin via UD on April 1, first win since R9 KO vs. Kubrat Pulev
- “I don’t care how he won, just that he did. You see how devastating the jab was, movement, just have to build now. Towards the end, yeah [I wanted more aggression], wanted him to pick up the pace in the last couple of rounds. The more we work together, the more he’ll do exactly what I want him to,” James’ in-ring interview after Joshua’s comfy decision win
- His friend and former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew called Joshua’s performance apprehensive that night, while #1 IBF contender Filip Hrgovic watched ringside and described it as sleepy. He boxes Demsey McKean on the Joshua-Helenius undercard tomorrow
- Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn said Joshua “needs to believe in himself again,” and that he didn’t want to stay “at this leevel” of opposition but scar tissue remained after past defeats. Franklin suffered his first loss during a competitive clash against Dillian Whyte five months prior
Anthony Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) vs. Robert Helenius (32-4, 23 KOs)
Heavyweight main event at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, August 12
Estimated ringwalks from 10.30pm BST, live on DAZN in UK and USA
Although it was a poorly-kept secret the decision-makers wanted this rematch a year earlier, Dillian Whyte talked himself into contention and spoke well when asked about Joshua-Franklin – having boxed both at different stages of his career.
This weekend, rather than luring his old rival into a furious firefight, he’ll watch on wondering what might’ve been. Perhaps seeing the event unfold without him will be overwhelming, with new priorities after all: clearing his name of any wrongdoing.
“Anytime Franklin feinted as if he was going to hit him, Joshua was very apprehensive. The aggression wasn’t there, the difference is I went for Franklin in the last two rounds, that’s just how I am. Losses don’t keep me down, they affect me sure, but you gotta get up,” he said on DAZN’s broadcast that night.
Joshua had stopped 16 of his opponents inside the first three rounds, viewers of the DAZN broadcast were reminded by a timely betting advertisement after round one, but it quickly became apparent this bullish American wouldn’t join them. Well, why?
Franklin absorbed damage, gave some back and kept coming
Franklin’s head snapped back and the crowd noise grew after eating a few too many jabs, but he made it messy up close and got referee Marcus McDonnell involved at times as you heard his team implore the 29-year-old for more head movement.
Heavy body shots didn’t deter him from moving forward, neither did short hooks as one of Franklin’s coaches Jesse Addison declared the home favourite was already uncomfortable – bleeding from his nose, unsettled by a courageous moving target.
Countering all the time and throwing with bad intentions, the away fighter was growing into his groove after nine minutes – the third and fourth were his best rounds, doubling up behind the jab, landing a few clean right-hands on Joshua.
For all the success from his piercing jab, the two-time world champion didn’t follow it up regularly enough with other shots to constantly keep Franklin at bay.
That only played into the Saginaw-born boxer’s favour as evidenced by a furious finish to round four… Joshua briefly backed up against the ropes.
Franklin’s corner after R4: “Let your hands go but keep your balance, don’t get too excited. We’re looking good… this guy can’t keep going like that, he getting tired. Start being tricky, those counters are starting to work.”
Into the fifth they went, Joshua’s static movement and defensive positioning leaving him susceptible to uppercuts as well as the counters which were increasing in volume thrown, but not necessarily accuracy. This was becoming a jarring watch.
The CompuBox punch stats painted a picture, showing Franklin was considerably less efficient throughout – but landed more power punches in round six and nine.
Perhaps it was Joshua’s reactions to being hit clean during some sequences or increased expectation a knockout punch was coming, but the 33-year-old certainly made him look good – judging by promoter Dmitry Salita’s post-fight comments.
Spiteful in stages, but not enough when it mattered
He had opportunities: in the first 45 seconds of round eight, flowing well enough – popping Franklin’s head back, unloading right-left-right combos, before the American clinched and the referee issued him a warning.
There was more energy-sapping holding and wrestling to finish that stanza, and throughout the next several rounds too as you could sense the frustration intensify in Joshua’s mind. Time ticked by, no devastating punch was on its way.
A timeout in the ninth didn’t deter Franklin, who connected on a gasp-inducing right hand soon afterwards that reminded him of the danger that lingers when you prolong this type of physically gruelling contest.
There was more energy-sapping holding and wrestling to finish that stanza, and throughout the next several rounds too as you could sense the frustration intensify in Joshua’s mind.
A timeout didn’t deter Franklin, who connected on a gasp-inducing right hand soon afterwards that reminded him of the danger that lingers when you prolong this type of physically gruelling contest.
Franklin landed another big right-hand, midway through the tenth and soon enough they were exchanging haymakers with weary legs after Joshua stung him with an uppercut he didn’t see coming.
For the first time, Franklin stood still – but not for long. The shots James had been calling for in the corner, were frustratingly infrequent, a bruising body shot early in the 11th for example – where was this shot selection and clarity five rounds earlier?
Even when Franklin pushed him against the ropes and the crowd swelled in anticipation of a furious finish, it didn’t arrive despite some flashes.
Instead, many were bemoaning a diminished version of the wrecking ball they quickly fell in love with during the previous decade.
“I can’t blame Franklin for anything that goes on in that ring because it’s all about me. I’ve got to take accountability, so if I didn’t want him to hold me, I’ve got to move my feet, create space.
That’s just down to me – if I would have created space, I would’ve got that knockout. It’s all me.” – Joshua said afterwards, per BoxingScene.com
We’ll get another look at him after his second training camp under James this weekend, and it’ll tell us more about where he truly is in a lucrative heavyweight division where possibilities – for better and worse – remain on offer.
After all he’s accomplished to date, how much does he truly want this now?
Picture source: Getty Images
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