Jermaine Franklin has warned Anthony Joshua that he is in for a “rude awakening” when they clash in a scheduled 12-round Heavyweight contest at The O2 in London this Saturday April 1, shown live worldwide on DAZN.
Former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua makes his highly anticipated return to the ring on UK soil following his second loss to unified world champion Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia, but Franklin insists that he isn’t here just to make up the numbers.
Saginaw’s ‘989 Assassin’ pushed Dillian Whyte all the way in a close points loss at Wembley’s OVO Arena last November and is relishing his shot against AJ.
“For him, they say his career is on the line. For me, everything is on the line,” said Franklin. “That’s how I treat every fight. I’ve been boxing all my life and I’m not nervous for this. If you get nervous, you’re in the wrong sport.
“They’re probably looking at me like I’m a pushover or a walkover or something like that but they’re going to be in for a rude awakening. A goal of mine is I want to be a unified World Champion. I just want to help boxers. I love the sport and I want to continue to help other fighters grow. I want to give back to the sport what it gave to me.
“The circumstances around this fight are very different. For the Dillian fight I was working a job before we got that phone call. I wasn’t in the gym. We took like 5-7 weeks to get in shape for that fight. For the time I had I did what I could. This time I’ve got more time to prepare and more time to get in shape. We’re doing all we can.
“I showed people what I could do against Dillian. I showed people I can hang up there with some of the best. Dillian is a top 10/top 15 fighter and I showed people what I’m capable of. I don’t feel like I lost. We came home and we worked on stuff. We got better and we perfected our craft. We learned some different techniques and ways to attack.”
The once-beaten Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) believes he did more than enough to secure the victory over Whyte – and some observers felt the same way. The 29-year-old contender expects to face the very best version of Joshua and feels the British star is far from finished.
“My performance against Dillian most definitely led to this fight. He could have picked anybody that he wanted to but he chose me. Maybe he’s trying to prove to himself that he can do something to me that Dillian couldn’t. Who knows. We don’t play boxing. I’ve come here to wake him and the rest of the world up.
“I feel like I’m winning hands down at the end of the fight. As far as him with the trainers and stuff, I can’t pinpoint on what kind of style he’s going to try to use. We just do our job and prepare for whatever style. Get ready to see a new and improved Jermaine Franklin.
“Fans are going to see me come out and fight way better fight than the Dillian fight. It is time for people to take me seriously. This is my new dawn. It’s my time to make my claim. I want to knock his ass out, that’s the goal.”
Jermaine be looking like Marshall Lynch LOL
Marshon
I hope he does to end the career and hype of Joshua vs Fury or Joshua vs Wilder
not likely.
Hopefully his performance matches his bravado. Joshua is there for the taking
Joshua is there for the taking, needs to pressure him and hurt him early and not let Joshua get going. The benefit Joshua has is that Franklin is not a ko artist
If Joshua has anything left he will knock out Franklin. Franklin couldn’t even beat a faded Dillian Whyte.
Fair.. but the guy who faded was Franklin against Whyte. It was a close fight, but Whyte got rounds late. I don’t see him being too tough for Joshua…. Might be close while it lasts, though.
I love the confidence. Never seen him fight before but I’m a fan of his words especially the part about loving boxing and wanting to help other fighters.
Franklin is going to give AJ rounds but he is not likely to be agressive enough to get AJ to tire and expose himself to another beatdown like in 1st Ruiz fight. Hype or not AJ is a warrior. He was on his feet when he lost to Ruiz and lost a close fight to Usyk in the rematch.
He probably can! Joshua’s career has been declining and this fight is just to see what he has left in the tank. If he loses, eddy hearn will just dump him as his promitor and from there on, he’ll be used as a stepping stone for the up and comer prospects.
AJ had high-level defeats. No one can blame him for that. However, he must prove that now with his new coach. He is able to come back. Let’s wait to see what he proposes on Saturday and then we can analyze.
Id like to see Joshua vs Wilder, but if his hype ass gets KTFO then so be it.
Fury in 2!
Talk the talk Mr.Franklin, you are now fighting in the big league, credible against a stepping stone in White but on his day AJ is a cut above you my friend, AJ is still an ex world champion.
” I’ve been boxing all my life and I’m not nervous for this. If you get nervous, you’re in the wrong sport.”
I definitely dont agree with this and its very surprising to hear a top-level fighter say this.
Showing up to a fight with thousands of screaming fans and millions watching gives many reasons to be nervous.
There’s a lot on the line for AJ and plenty to lose, Im sure he’s nervous.
Derreck James gets his fighters in world class shape and probably the best pro trainer in the game. If AJ can get through that camp Im expecting improvements to AJ stamina.
I saw Franklin fight recently and he’s actually pretty talented. Doesn’t have the guts inside of him to be a real aggressive fighter-Will put a few punches together but will not go for the kill. He will be happy to end the fight on his feet and still lose.
Go for broke. You’re expected to lost so you might get lucky.
Oh, ok Franklin. I have no skin in the game, no pony in the race, no money on the line, but Joshua is going to crush Franklin like an aluminum can in the middle of the highway!