JERMAINE FRANKLIN is as well placed as anyone to give a prediction on next month’s Anthony Joshua-Dillian Whyte rematch.
The 29-year-old from Michigan hopes to get his own career back on track this weekend after back-to-back losses against the two British heavyweights.
On Saturday night in Detroit Franklin returns to the ring against Mexico’s Isaac Munoz Gutierrez over 10 rounds. The fight comes four months on from his unanimous decision loss to Joshua. Prior to that Franklin gave Whyte a difficult night’s work last November prompting many to say that the American did enough to win on points.
Earlier this week it was officially announced that old rivals Joshua and Whyte would clash once again on August 12 at the O2 Arena in London. The rematch comes nearly eight years since their first fight which ended with a comprehensive seventh round stoppage win for Joshua. Four months later ‘AJ’ picked up his first world title and went on to become a dominant force before Andy Ruiz Jr, a loss which Joshua avenged, and Oleksandr Usyk showed alarming chinks in the armour of the former Olympic Gold medallist.
Having gone the distance with them both Franklin gave his prediction to Matchroom Boxing.
“I think AJ pulls the win off. I don’t know if he gets a knockout, but I say he gets the victory only because the way Dillian fights you can kinda adjust to it kinda easy. He tries to change it, but his changes are still kinda similar. So, if Anthony can adjust the right way, he should be able to get the job done.”
Whoever wins next month will be in line to potentially face Deontay Wilder in the Middle East later this year or early in 2024.
