Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin

Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin: Live stream updates, results and highlights

Reporting by Boxing Social Staff.

Anthony Joshua takes on America’s Jermaine Franklin in London’s O2 Arena in what the two-time world champion will hope is the catalyst for a comeback in the heavyweight division.

The undercard features Fabio Wardley, Ammo Williams, Galal Yafai, and Campbell Hatton.

Keep up to date right here with Boxing Social’s live coverage.

Joshua wins wide on the scorecards

Anthony Joshua gets the job done by unanimous decision.

Official scores on the night were 118-111, 117-111, 117-111.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 12

Not many expected this fight to see the twelfth, but it does. Franklin comes out quickly, but Joshua’s 255lb frame doesn’t seem to have gassed as many expected it too. Franklin shrugs off a clinch and the pair exchange words. They clinch again and Joshua keeps him close, digging into the body. He follows it up with a big right hand and suddenly the American wants to hold on again. Franklin goes for broke but hits thin air with most.

The teams come together in ugly scenes. It was threatening to boil over and did just that. Tony Bellew gets involved from ringside.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 11

Great body shot in the eleventh sees Franklin threaten to double over but he stays on his feet. He lands his own right hand to the side of ‘AJ’s head, but certainly needs a knockout to win here. Joshua throws a left as the ref is talking to the pair. Bad practice.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 10

Joshua lands two short uppercuts in the ninth, hoping to deter his opponent from coming in too close. It doesn’t. Franklin is grabbing on at any opportunity, making it messy and teasing a clash of heads. He lands a good right hand in the final minute, though, reminding ‘AJ’ he can’t afford to cruise here.

The crowd gets involved in the tenth when Joshua finds a home for an uppercut and a right hook, and he builds on the momentum until Franklin lands a big right hand. The pair enter the most entertaining exchange of the fight. Franklin’s instinct to attack when hit keeps him in it. If Joshua is to get the stoppage, it looks like it will come from the uppercut.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 9

Joshua lands two short uppercuts in the ninth, hoping to deter his opponent from coming in too close. It doesn’t. Franklin is grabbing on at any opportunity, making it messy and teasing a clash of heads. He lands a good right hand in the final minute, though, reminding ‘AJ’ he can’t afford to cruise here.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 8

Great jabbing and moving from ‘AJ’ to start the eighth, and Franklin keen to hold more this round. It looks like Joshua’s work is starting to take its toll. Very little from the American.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 7

Joshua dips and digs the body in the seventh, but Franklin’s on the move and rides it. Neither man seems to be slowing at this stage. They get into an ugly clinch. Franklin shows a good chin after a good round. He’s trying to frustrate the former champion and it could be working, but he’s undoubtedly behind on the cards.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 6

Going into the sixth and the killer instinct fans were calling for hasn’t made an appearance, but Franklin is, once again, proving more of a handful than people give him credit for. ‘AJ’ lands another head-snapping uppercut, but Franklin doesn’t slow.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 5

Franklin’s ability to fire back quickly when hit by ‘AJ’ – however hard – shows how much the American wants this. His speed of hand is making it hard for the Brit to build on his attacks. No killer instinct from Joshua yet, and that’s the one thing fans wanted to see.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 4

Franklin comes in with three jabs in quick succession to start the fourth. It’s a confident round for the American, but Joshua’s jab is heavier and it’s still landing. More blood from the nose of ‘AJ.’ He lands a sweet uppercut. Franklin swarms him on the bell.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 3

More exchanging in the third , but still tentative – or measured, depending on how you look at it – from ‘AJ.’ Twenty seconds passed without anything thrown before Franklin broke the tension by rushing in.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 2

Joshua comes out in the second a little lighter on his feet, and landed a good right hand. Franklin invited more. The patience was clear, but the hometown hero landed significantly on a couple more occasions. The American shot back a quick combination, but took a couple to the body for his troubles.

Joshua vs Franklin: Round 1

A tentative first round, with Joshua landing a stiff jab and Franklin finding a little success to the body. No massive commitment from either man. The size difference is stark.

Blood from the nose of Joshua in the corner.

It's time! Joshua vs Franklin is upon us

Here we go! The atmosphere is at fever pitch as the main event is about to start.

John Ryder talks Canelo Alvarez

John Ryder has been talking about taking on undisputed super middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez in Mexico next month.

Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin up next

The main event ring walks are set for ten minutes time, as Anthony Joshua looks to take the first step on his comeback trail against American heavyweight, Jermaine Franklin.

Watch: Wardley Stops Coffie

Was it an early stoppage? It looked like Coffie wasn’t taking too much clean but the ref stepped in and waved off the fight.

Fabio Wardley stops Michael Coffie in round 4

In the fourth, Wardley swarmed Coffie and landed an incredible number of unanswered shots. Referee Howard Foster stepped in, but the American wasn’t hurt or happy.

Fabio Wardley vs Michael Coffie: Round 3

Coffie had a busy start to the third round and forced Wardley into the corner, but the Englishman wasn’t drawn into a brawl. He got back behind his jab to see out the rest of the three minutes.

Fabio Wardley vs Michael Coffie: Round 2

Wardley uses the jab cleverly in the second against a gun-shy Coffie. Patient still and not letting the American frustrate him.

Fabio Wardley vs Michael Coffie: Round 1

Coffie came out in the southpaw stance but changed to orthodox when Wardley landed a solid right hand. Wardley showed more patience than he has in his previous contests. Good round for the home fighter.

Fabio Wardley vs Michael Coffie up next

The chief support is a heavyweight affair that sees British Champion, Fabio Wardley, look to continue his undefeated campaign against America’s Michael Coffie.

Conor Benn is in London

Conor Benn is making an appearance in London tonight.

He predicts AJ gets the job done inside 6.

‘The Destroyer’ looks set to return to the ring on June 3 against either Chris Eubank Jr or Manny Pacquiao.

Leigh Wood and Mauricio Lara face off

With the rematch confirmed for Manchester in May, the two face off in London tonight.

Leigh Wood vs Mauricio Lara 2 is on!

Leigh Wood will run it back against Mauricio Lara after getting stopped last time out.

They will rematch on May 27 in Manchester with new Matchroom signing Jack Catterall as co-main event.

Galal Yafai stops Moises Calleros in the fourth

Olympic Medalist, Galal Yafai, moved to 4-0 in the flyweight ranks with a stoppage win over Mexico’s Moises Calleros. Yafai dropped his opponent in the fourth with a lovely flurry that really started with a pinpoint right hook. The Mexican made the count, but a wobble on his feet made the referee see fit to wave it off.

Dillian Whyte is in the house

‘The Body Snatcher’ has arrived at the venue.

No doubt comparisons will be made tonight between Joshua’s performance against Franklin and Whyte’s last year.

If AJ comes through tonight could we see the rematch with Whyte this summer?

Galal Yafai faces Moises Calleros next

Next up is Galal Yafai’s (3-0) fourth pro fight in the flyweight ranks, as he faces Mexico’s Moises Calleros (30-10-1).

WATCH: Campbell Hatton stops Louis Fielding in the first

Campbell Hatton took a page out of his father’s book for his first round body shot stoppage…

Campbell Hatton beats Louis Fielding in the first round

It took Campbell Hatton just one round to end his first eight-rounder. He hit Lous Fielding with a left shot to the body and Fielding was visibly too hurt to continue. Another Ricky Hatton esque finish for the young Manchester man.

He moves to 11-0 with 4 early.

A touching moment for Ken Buchanan

David Diamante introduced a memorial tolling of ten bells for the man who became Scotland’s first undisputed champion in 1971.

Ken Buchanan passed away today at 77 years of age. Read our piece on the man who many call Scotland’s greatest here.

Campbell Hatton vs Lous Fielding up next

Next up on the main card, Campbell Hatton takes on Louis Fielding in a super lightweight contest. The all-British affair is Hatton’s first eight-rounder.

Austin Williams Stops River Wilson-Bent In The 8th

Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams knocked Coventry’s River Wilson-Bent down hard in the seventh after a good showing from the local boy that tested the American southpaw. After a barrage unanswered in the eighth, Wilson-Bent’s corner threw the towel in. Williams moves to 14-0 with 10 stoppages.

Campbell Hatton getting ready to face Louis Fielding

Hatton going through the motions before his fight this evening.

Eddie Hearn 'feels sick' ahead of Joshua return

Eddie Hearn nervous before the return of Anthony Joshua.

If AJ loses tonight it’s hard to see a path back to the top of the division.

Ammo Williams vs River Wilson Bent coming up

Undefeated Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams fights for the third time on these shores as he faces Coventry’s River Wilson Bent. The 10-round middleweight contest is the first action of the main card, live on DAZN worldwide.

Tony Bellew makes his prediction for Joshua-Franklin

Former cruiserweight world champion, Tony Bellew, is predicting an early night for the main event…

Joshua-Franklin Before The Bell Results

With the main card set to start now, here are the results from the early undercard action:

  • Peter Kadiru defeated Alen Lauriolle via first round RTD – heavyweight
  • Benoit Huber defeated Juergen Uldedaj via decision – cruiserweight
  • Jordan Flynn defeated Kane Baker via decision – super featherweight
  • Ziyad Almaayouf defeated Georgi Velichkov via decision – super lightweight
  • John Hedges defeated Daniel Bocianski via decision – light heavyweight

Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin Full Card Running Order

The full running order for the event, with the main card due to start at 7PM.

Jordan Flynn vs Kane Baker

Some excellent action on Before the Bell as undefeated super featherweight, Jordan Flynn, is tested by Kane Baker.

Sunny Edwards arrives for Joshua-Franklin

Matchroom’s latest signing is in the building for his first event as a Matchroom fighter. Sunny Edwards was announced alongside Jack Catterall and Shannon Ryan as the latest additions to Eddie Hearn’s stable. Read about the announcement here.

Anthony Joshua weighed in at career heaviest

Yesterday Joshua weighed in at his career heaviest at 255.4lb, over 10lb heavier than his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

How will the extra weight impact AJ’s performance?

Read the full weigh in results article on Boxing Social.

Welcome to Boxing Social's live updates for Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin

After Joshua weighed in at a career heaviest at 255.4lb many are predicting are early finish.

Read what round the man himself thinks he’ll stop the American.

Eddie Hearn with Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin

Read Anthony Joshua’s prediction here.