Many feel the heavyweight division is falling victim to too many unnecessary rematches, which end up stalling proceedings at the top end of the division.
Fighters will often call for a second bite of the cherry after tasting defeat, regardless of how comprehensively they have been bested.
Such is the case with American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin, who has expressed his desire to run it back with Anthony Joshua after losing out to the Brit at the 02 Arena earlier this year.
Speaking to Boxing Social, Franklin claimed he “wasn’t mentally in the fight” after the halfway point due to grievances with the referee, however insists things would be a lot different if he was to get another shot at ‘AJ.’
“It was a great experience and, even though he [Joshua] probably won’t agree to it, I want a rematch. Hopefully we get to the point where we can talk about a rematch.
Honestly, him and the ref beat me that night. No excuses, but I was so angry at the ref for the collar tying and the head pushing, that after the sixth or seventh round I wasn’t mentally in the fight no more.
I want a rematch, it will be a whole different fight.”
Franklin’s road towards another crack at a big heavyweight fight starts this weekend in Detroit, where he takes on undefeated Mexican heavyweight Isaac Munoz.
‘The 989 Assassin’ has shared a ring with both Joshua and Dillian Whyte over the past twelve months, and will no doubt be watching on as the two Londoners square off in a hotly anticipated rematch on August 12th.