By Geoffrey Ciani: Can Anthony Joshua become a 3-time heavyweight champion?
This past weekend, former 2-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua had his first bout since losing back-to-back fights against Oleksandr Usyk. His opponent was Jermaine Franklin, and many observers were expecting AJ to make a big statement and score a highlight reel knockout to get his career back on track. That didn’t happen. Instead, AJ seemed content to box and work behind his jab, and at the end of 12 rounds, Joshua was awarded a unanimous decision victory, where two judges scored it 117-111, and the other judge had it 118-111.
Once upon a time Anthony Joshua was viewed as one of the very best and most talented (if not the very best and most talented) heavyweights competing in the game. Anthony Joshua was the unified IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion, and he had held notable victories against the likes of Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker, Alexander Povetkin, and also his career defining win to date when he stopped long reigning heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. AJ’s run came to a shocking and abrupt end when he was stopped by Andy Ruiz Jr, but Joshua avenged that loss in an immediate rematch to reclaim his unified crown.
After making a successful title defense against Kubrat Pulev, Joshua suffered another major career setback when he lost his unified championship against the extremely talented former undisputed cruiserweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua had the opportunity to become a 3-time heavyweight champion when he got his rematch against Usyk, but Usyk once again proved to be too skilled, too smart, and too slick for AJ. Going into the Franklin bout, AJ had lost 3 of his previous 5, and many observers were expecting him to make a big statement with a highlight reel knockout. That did not happen. Following the fight, many observers are being very critical of Joshua’s performance, with some going so far to say that he is finished as an elite level prizefighter.
So all things considered, can Anthony Joshua still become a 3-time heavyweight champion?
This edition of Rummy’s Corner will attempt to answer that very question, while also providing a quick recap and review of last weekend’s heavyweight contest between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin. Please watch and enjoy the video for one man’s opinion. This is Rummy’s Corner (produced and narrated by Geoffrey Ciani).