By Rory Hickey – Anthony Joshua defeated Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision- winning comfortably by scores of 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111 from the three judges. It was Joshua’s first fight since losing two consecutive bouts by decision, along with his heavyweight championships, to Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua, who had said he would retire if he did not defeat Franklin, was not overly impressive but did what he needed to do to stop his losing streak and begin climbing to the peak of the heavyweight division again.
Joshua is now 33 years old. For most boxers, a record of 25-3 with 22 knockouts and being a two-time unified heavyweight champion would qualify as a wildly successful career. Joshua is one of two English boxers to win an Olympic gold medal and a major world title. But among fans and media, there is a level of disappointment in how Anthony Joshua’s career has unfolded. How did we get here?
On April 29, 2017, when Anthony Joshua defeated Wladimir Klitschko by knockout in a thrilling fight, later named the Fight of the Year in 2017, it felt like the heavyweight division was back- and Anthony Joshua would be the man synonymous with the next decade of heavyweight boxing. In 2017, Anthony Joshua got named the most marketable athlete in the world by SportsPro magazine, overtaking Steph Curry. Joshua has gone from an undefeated generational star in the making to having genuine concerns raised about his viability as a heavyweight contender. With his win against Franklin over the weekend, Joshua notched just his third victory since 2019: Joshua defeated Andy Ruiz in a rematch of Ruiz’s upset victory, then in December 2020, he knocked Kubrat Pulev out in the ninth round before facing Usyk.
Joshua displayed moxie in his fight against Klitschko, rising from the canvas after being knocked down in the fifth round and eventually securing his career-defining victory. But the tenacity that made Joshua a transcendent talent has rarely been seen in recent years. Depending on which column you read or analysis you hear, Joshua’s career has been on a downturn because he is not 100% committed to boxing, he is not mentally tough enough, he is built too much like a bodybuilder instead of a boxer; or some combination of the three.
In June 2019, the British star intended to introduce himself to the American audience by fighting in the United States for the first time in his career; at the world-famous Madison Square Garden. There was excitement in the buildup to the bout as Joshua and Jarrell Miller got into heated exchanges during the press conferences promoting the fight. Miller, set to receive a shot at the heavyweight championship and the largest paycheck of his career, tested positive for a metabolic performance enhancer, plus EPO and HGH in a later test. Enter Andy Ruiz, who stepped up and delivered an upset that will live on in boxing history. Joshua has not fought in the US since. That night in New York City, Joshua lost his undefeated record, his heavyweight titles, and his confidence.
Joshua is now working with trainer Derrick James, best known for his work with Errol Spence Jr. and Jermell Charlo. James is the third trainer that Anthony Joshua has worked with. Rob McCracken was Joshua’s longtime trainer until the two parted ways after Joshua’s first 26 pro fights. Robert Garcia was Joshua’s trainer for the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk; Joshua did perform better in the rematch with Usyk than in their initial contest. With Joshua’s move to Derrick James comes a move in training camp to Texas. Boxing media had been critical of Joshua for continuing to hold all his professional training camps in England.
Joshua weighed in at a career-high 255 pounds the night before taking on Jermaine Franklin. He looked more like a boxer than a bodybuilder, answering one of the major critiques thrown his way of late. Joshua said that his muscles are far denser now, which will improve his stamina late in fights. Joshua did not look tired toward the later rounds against Franklin; his lack of aggressiveness was likely part of that equation. Hopefully, the change in scenery and a change in trainer will give Anthony Joshua the lift he needs to become a heavyweight title challenger once again.
It is still unclear how Anthony Joshua gets remembered in boxing history. Just looking at Anthony Joshua’s record, accomplishments, and highlights on YouTube, Joshua comes off quite well. But there was so much expected of Joshua before turning professional and early in his pro career; that his resume seems a little disappointing. Joshua turned pro in 2013, so his entire career has unfolded in the social media era, not to mention under the blinding spotlight of the British press.
The one issue with considering Anthony Joshua’s legacy is that his career is still active. After defeating Jermaine Franklin, Joshua said he would like to fight Tyson Fury. For Joshua, fighting the biggest name in the division for a championship while earning his largest potential paycheck makes some sense. But with Joshua’s form of late, a fight against Tyson Fury right now is a physical and mental buzzsaw that Joshua should want no part of. If I were advising Joshua (Eddie Hearn has yet to return my calls), I would have another training camp with Derrick James and one more fight against lesser opposition. Then, if all goes well, AJ could step up to Fury, Wilder, or Usyk for more than a glorified cashout fight.
Anthony Joshua is at a crossroads in his career. He likely has one more opportunity at a heavyweight championship. While he has accomplished a lot, Joshua has not met the outsized expectations for his career. Maybe it was too much for Anthony Joshua to live up to being a transcendent star, savior of the heavyweight division, and an icon of British boxing. Heavyweight fighters appear so large in stature that they seem larger than life. They seem large enough to carry the weight of enormous expectations. Hopefully, Anthony Joshua will have a thrilling final act in his career and redeem himself in the eyes of many. But if he does not reach the mountaintop again, Anthony Joshua should still hold his head high.