‘I wish I could have knocked him out’ – Anthony Joshua says after beating Jermaine Franklin on points
Nigerian-British boxer Anthony Joshua defeated his American opponent Jermaine Franklin by unanimous points decision at his crucial fight in London on Saturday, April 1, 2023.
Speaking to DAZN after the fight, Joshua said “It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck and dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out; respect to him, he did well. I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out.”
In a fight expected to determine his future in boxing, three judges scored it 118-111, 117-111, 117-111 in favour of Joshua on Saturday night. The Nigerian-Briton boxer had vowed to retire from boxing if he loses the Saturday night fight against Franklin.
It was AJ’s return to the ring for the first time since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch last August.
Although he failed to produce knockout moment in the fight against Franklin, with the win, Joshua extended his record to 25 wins in 27 fights.
On his next plan, Joshua said: “I try and provide for the fans. I know who they want. They said Tyson Fury; the ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World. If he’s listening, he knows my promoter; we’ve had dialogue before, so lets continue this. We ain’t getting any younger.”
There were ugly scenes at the end of the fight as corners and fighters clash momentarily and security had to step in.
