WBO #12 heavyweight contender Jermaine Franklin Jr. (22-2, 14 KOs) will appear in the 10-round DAZN main event against Devin Vargas (22-10, 9 KOs) on Thursday night at Wayne State Fieldhouse in Detroit. On Tuesday, Franklin showed off his skills at a media workout at the Kronk Gym.
“Fighting in my home state again feels great. I love the energy. It’s like an aura and it feels great,” said Franklin. “What I learned in those two fights in Europe is that everything isn’t fair and don’t look to the refs to clean up everything. Fight to the best of your ability and don’t pay attention until he stops you. I was already mentally tough, but those two fights over there brought out a new ferociousness in me. Not a lot of stuff can get to me anymore. If the ref doesn’t stop me, you better get out of the way.
“I still want my rematch with Joshua, but we’re chasing belts. Hopefully, I can go after one of these top contenders like Daniel Dubois or Phillip Hrgovic or Cassius Chaney or Michael Hunter.
“I only saw bits and pieces of Fury vs. Usyk, but I think my punch output would be a lot higher than those guys. Usyk can punch and move against the big heavyweights, he’s got real nice feet, but I think my punch output could keep up with him a lot better than most other heavyweights could.
“I know Vargas was a great boxer in his time, and he went to the Olympics. He has a punch-and-move type style, so I’ll beat him at his own game and cut the ring off – force him to engage. I don’t do predictions, but he’s going to end up on his ass.
“Fighting to the level of my opposition has been a real problem for me in the past. I really can’t explain why the better the opponent, the better I fight. We’ve been working on pushing the pace and pushing our intensity in the gym, so we don’t get stuck in that comfortable space anymore and fight to my limit every time.
“I still see myself as a top guy and I’m just trying to get back to the top fights. Mentally and physically I’m ready to take the call for the next big fight.”
step it up.. top guys do Not fight Vargas.
ridiculous
What else is he going to say, “I’m not a top guy” lol
Vargas is a good boxer, the problem is that he’s a tweener, should never have been fighting heavy. Better suited for cruiser. but now he’s just looking for a quick payday.
Vargas, lost 10x in his last 15 fights, 7 of those by ko, and Franklin, you want to call yourself a top guy?!
What a garbage main event!
He sees himself as a top guy….I see myself as handsome!!! Its all perspective!! I suppose one could say he has taken too many punches to the head….I am just naturally delusional!!! LOL!
Looking at the show lineup on boxrec appears to be “featuring” a 42, and a 40 year old opponent in the Main, and Co-Main. Either the promotion is clueless as to what is TV/stream worthy, or DAZN is paying zero dollars in rights fees. I’m guessing it’s a bit of both, because this looks like a small club show with no cameras in the room. Not worth our time to watch. C’mon DAZN, this isn’t worth $30 a month…put this on the free DAZN youtube.
I have no issue with a bad card that is part of my subscription. As long as I am getting good cards as well I have no issue with cards like this. If I have nothing better to do I will watch. I am disappointed that it appears Taylor Catterall is not being shown by DAZN in the US or Canada. I am hoping TSN in Canada picks it up. That kind off stuff disappoints me more. While the first fight was not what I would call esthetically pleasing there is a good storyline there and the fight has relevance. It has been advertised on DAZN for months and now from what I gather it will not be part of my subscription or that of anyone in Canada or the US. I know there are valid business reasons but it still disappoints me when this kind of things happens.
Good points on the club show with cameras in the room, didn’t know the Taylor-Catterall show wouldn’t be on DAZN in the US/Canada. I’ll be watching that fight on ESPN+. They also have the final press conference, and weigh-in.