Anthony Joshua vs. Jermaine Franklin is scheduled for 12 rounds in the heavyweight division in the featured boxing attraction this weekend from The O2 Arena in London.
Joshua is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses and get back into title contention, while the spoiler-minded Franklin hopes to blaze a title trail himself.
Boxing odds grossly favor Joshua as a massive -1,200 favorite, with Franklin heading into his second major fight as another underdog — this time at +600.
Here are our picks and predictions for Joshua vs. Franklin from London.
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin odds
| Method of victory | Anthony Joshua | Jermaine Franklin |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -1,200 | +660 |
| Win by KO/TKO | -380 | +1,500 |
| Win by points or decision | +550 | +1,000 |
| Draw | +2,600 | +2,600 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel as of April 1, 2022.
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin betting predictions
Picks made on April 1. Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
Looking to bet on boxing? Here are two of the best bonuses* available:
A) New users at FanDuel can get a no-sweat first bet up to $1,000! Sign Up Now
B) New users at DraftKings can bet $5 and get $150 in free bets! Sign Up Now
*Eligible USA locations only. Also, check out our full list of best sportsbook promotions for 2023.
21+. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin betting preview
Joshua and Franklin are coming off losses from their previous fights, but this is very much a fight made to get Joshua a much-needed win and confidence boost. Though Joshua is a big favorite, Franklin might have an inside edge on the former two-time champion.
We’d like to forget the last time we saw Joshua. After coming up short again to Oleksandr Usyk, Joshua had a full-on breakdown in the ring, tossing Usyk’s belts out of the ring and going on a strange rant.
Joshua is now with trainer Derrick James, who hopefully can provide him with the same tools and toughness he gives to Errol Spence and Jermell Charlo. Even though Joshua is 2-3 in his last five fights, a win here is all he needs to get back into the mega-fight territory.
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are perpetually around the corner, but a loss to Franklin ruins everything. Joshua is an athletic puncher with explosive power, and he’s a solid finisher when he gets someone hurt. “AJ” has an 81.48% knockout rate and his average fight time is 5.03 rounds, though he hasn’t stopped anyone early since 2016.
Franklin lost via a questionable decision against Dillian Whyte last November, but the American has another big chance. After a three-year break, Franklin put together a pair of wins before taking Whyte to the limit. His tenacity and combination punching gave Whyte fits, and he’ll have to hope for similar success against a former heavyweight champion.
The “989 Assassin” needs to fight like a man with nothing to lose. Franklin possesses a 63.6% knockout percentage and is also dangerous early with an average fight time of 5.05 rounds. Even though Whyte was a big step up for him, he can find solace in keeping pace with Joshua even in a losing effort.
There are a lot of questions surrounding Joshua’s passion and whether his best days are behind him.
Changing trainers might renew his vigor for the sport, and he needs to pass this test run with flying colors to show he still has something left. For Franklin, an upset here will forever change his fortunes, and he could have a claim of beating two of the best British heavyweights of the era.
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin boxing prediction and best bet
Prediction: Joshua
Even though Joshua has fallen on hard times, he’s losing to good and borderline-great fighters. He isn’t getting roughed up by journeymen, bailed out on the scorecards, or looking flat in his wins.
His talent ceiling may not be as high as initially projected, but this version of Joshua is still a Top 5 heavyweight who could still win another title.
Franklin should have beaten Whyte, but he has himself to blame for it. That fight was close going into the later rounds, and Whyte summoned enough energy to dominate the last third of the fight. Whyte was on the verge of stopping Franklin, also. It has to be noted that Whyte is a shopworn fighter at the end of his rope: Joshua is not.
Switching over to James and moving his training camp outside of the UK should result in a win here.
Prediction: Joshua moneyline (-1,200 at DraftKings)
Best Bet: Joshua to win in rounds 7-12 (odds)
When fighters switch to new trainers, their first fight is a feeling-out process. They’ll try to implement new strategies and tricks to their overall game, resulting in a methodical performance. However, Joshua’s physical gifts and power should shine against Franklin, who doesn’t have the gas tank to go 12 rounds.
I expect Joshua to want to put the embarrassing epilogue to the Usyk fight behind him, and he’s going to try and get Franklin out early.
Joshua’s stoppages have come from the seventh round onwards for the last seven years. Because of that, we’ll dare to venture Joshua getting a stoppage between rounds 7-12.
Prediction: Joshua to win in rounds 7-12 (+155 at FanDuel)
