Tony Bellew stepped out of his punditry duties and into Anthony Joshua’s corner briefly after the former world champion’s win over Jermaine Franklin.
‘AJ’ comprehensively outscored his American opponent to unanimous decision victory. Despite a bit of a lack of aggression within the twelve rounds, he initiated a bit of a scuffle after the final bell.
Whilst the two fighters were embroiled in a tight clinch that both camps were trying to separate, Joshua was pushed by a member of Franklin’s entourage.
Drama at the final bell! #JoshuaFranklinpic.twitter.com/vegJjiQiyY
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 1, 2023
That’s when Bellew, a former world cruiserweight champion, got involved. He was ringside on analyst duties for DAZN, but turned security when he addressed the man who had put hands on ‘AJ.’
Bellew told IFL TV what happened.
“I didn’t want the trouble with him. I just said ‘what are you doing?’ And he said ‘what are you gonna do?’ I said ‘what the f**k are you gonna do?’ So he stepped down and said let’s go.
I just stepped aside and he stepped to me, I thought the right hand was just gonna meet him. But he didn’t get close enough. I was just trying to tell the man you can’t approach a fighter. You can’t do that.
It’s down the to the fighters, if Jermaine and him have a little tussle.”
He was then escorted from the situation.
Tony Bellew lost his head at ringside after #JoshuaFranklin! 😳 pic.twitter.com/UoJDzVQHvj
— Sun Sport (@SunSport) April 1, 2023
Joshua said in his post-fight remarks that he respected Franklin and that whatever animosity there was had been squashed.
Unfortunately, it’s not the first time focus is on what happened after the fact in a Joshua fight. Having said that, the heavyweight superstar now moves on with the first win under his belt since a knockout of Kubrat Pulev back in 2020.
He’s expected to face Dillian Whyte in a rematch or re-enter negotiations with Tyson Fury next as he continues to gel with new coach, Derrick James.