Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are in the final stages of negotiations for an undisputed heavyweight title fight, and Jermaine Franklin is the latest to pick a winner.
The American heavyweight is in the promotion phase of his fight with former unified champion and the man Usyk last beat, Anthony Joshua.
He has sparred Fury in the past, and they share an opponent in Dillian Whyte – although Whyte lost to Fury by knockout and beat Franklin by decision.
With those ties to the two champions, Franklin told ID Boxing he’s picking his former sparring partner to do the business.
“I see Tyson winning. If Tyson can move like I’ve seen him move and box to what I know he’s capable of, I feel like he wins that fight. Not taking nothing from Usyk, but [Fury’s] longer than AJ it’s tougher to get in on somebody that has a great jab that can punch and can move a little bit with you.”
“I think it’ll be a little harder for Usyk to get inside and to get some of those punches off that he got off on AJ. Tyson uses his jab more. He’s a little more elusive. I think from [Fury] just banging the jab down [Usyk] he wins that fight.”
Like others, Franklin’s pick does have a focus on the size difference, but he’s also pointing to Fury’s elite-level skills as a boxer and mover.
The man from Morecambe will go into the bout the favourite to come out with his undefeated record still intact, but that certainly won’t deter the Ukrainian, who has been unfazed by the size comments.
As the predictions keep coming, the location of the fight is still unclear. Promoter Frank Warren recently stated that the fight would take place on April 29, but a decision is yet to be made between Saudi Arabia or the UK.