Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin close to being finalized for Nov.26th

By Boxing News - 10/17/2022 - Comments

By Charles Brun: Dillian ‘The Bodysnatcher’ Whyte and #13 WBO fringe contender Jermaine Franklin are reportedly nearly finalized for November 26th.

Franklin, 28, is a fighter that has been mentioned as a possibility for Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs) for some time after his fight with Otto Wallin fell through.

Whyte fighting Franklin will enable him to get a sure-thing victory, which will keep him in the running for a big-money rematch with Anthony Joshua in 2023. Whyte hasn’t fought since being knocked out in six rounds by Fury last April.

The 35-year-old Whyte is ranked #7 WBC despite having been knocked out in the sixth round by Tyson Fury earlier this year. With the dreadful performance Whyte put in against Fury, you can argue that he should be ranked at rock bottom in the WBC’s rankings at the #15 spot or lower.

It’s unclear why Whyte’s management is interested in the Franklin fight, as he’s not well known in the U.S despite coming from there. The chances are, Whyte could lose to the guy if he lands on a clean shot on his chin.

Losing to an unknown fighter like Franklin would be disastrous for Whyte, who has already been knocked out in two out of his last three fights by 41-year-old Alexander Povetkin and Tyson Fury.

Surprisingly, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn wants to match Anthony Joshua against Whyte next year in a stadium fight. That shows you how far Joshua has fallen as a fighter.

Hearn might as well match Joshua against journeyman Chris Arreola because it’s basically the same type of fighter as Whyte.

Whyte had the chance to fight WBA regular heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois for his strap, but it opting to face the obscure #13 WBO Franklin instead.

It’s a wise move for Whyte because, with his poor punch resistance, advanced age, and the huge power of Dubois, he likely wouldn’t last beyond the third round against the 25-year-old.

Hearn seems serious about wanting to match Joshua against Whyte next year. It’s a fight that British boxing fans will love, but it’s a purely awful fight in reality.

Joshua already knocked out Whyte in the seventh round in 2015, and nothing would indicate that the rematch would be any different. Whyte’s punch resistance appears to have dramatically gone downhill since that fight, making him vulnerable to an early knockout.

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