Heavyweight fan favourite, Dave Allen, has commended Jermaine Franklin on his survival skills, believing the American would go the distance with most men in the division.
Franklin returned to London for a second time in his campaign to face Anthony Joshua. He tested the former world champion with fast hands and an at-times awkward clinching style.
‘AJ’ couldn’t find the stoppage that fans so desperately wanted to see, and that could be down to his lack of will to do so. However, not many have praised Franklin for his durability.
Allen, who has been a sparring parter of Joshua’s in the past, did just that. He spoke to Seconds Out about the American heavyweight.
“Franklin’s good. He’s a really, really good fighter. He’s a really good survivor as well. I think Franklin after four or five realised Joshua’s too big for him and kind of went into survival mode a little bit.
I don’t think there’s many heavyweights out there that would get Franklin out of there.”
‘The Doncaster De La Hoya’ went on to name Joe Joyce – a man with 14 knockouts from 15 fights – as the only one he could see stopping Franklin.
“He’ll give anyone trouble. Joe Joyce may be the only man in heavyweight boxing that could stop Jermaine Franklin, to be honest.”
As Franklin returns to America 0 for 2 now against British fighters, Joshua moves forward with this latest stage of his career.
Whilst a fight with Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder or Joyce is at the top of his list, many pundits believe another training camp with new coach Derrick James and a less dangerous bout is the way to proceed.