Does Franklin getting a shot at Joshua confirm everyone thinks Whyte lost?

Franklin wasn't robbed it was a close fight I had Whyte edging the fight. But I could easily see a case for Franklin winning aswell. During the RBR for this fight, many people on this forum scored various rounds differently. Which shows you how close this fight was, but it in no way was it a robbery. But Franklin unexpectedly did show some good skills in there.

 

Nah. It has nothing to do with that. Promoters and Matchmakers aren't working like that. The reason they might give Franklin a shot at Joshua is that Franklin can't crack a god damn egg with his fists. He's a pillow fisted HW. Whyte already rocked Joshua to his core in the first fight. If you can say anything good about Dillian Whyste, it might be that he packs some power. Imagine Joshi would lose to Whyte by KO lol. He could pack it in. The worst thing that can happen to Joshi in the Franklin fight is a close fight where the judges will give it to Joshua like they gave it to Whyte. Joshua will bounce back with a W against a decent Top 20 HW. Easy maths.

 

I had Whyte losing to Franklin but Franklin is not as dangerous as Whyte so I can see why Matchroom would pick him at this point in Joshua’s career .

 

Franklin is an easier fight for Joshua. He isn't a big puncher, is short and compact. Joshua will knock him out mid fight.

 

Yea prerty much this.

 

Whyte probably wants to get to paid too, while Franklin comes cheap. If the opponent isn't Wilder or Fury there won't be much budget left after they sign AJ's paycheck.

That's about the whole reasoning right there.

HWs are routinely going to their late 30s and even 40s now and Whyte got a late start to pure boxing. He might only be halfway through his career, so it's not worthless to try and learn the craft.

In theory anyway, but I guess the same hubris that makes you a successful HW boxer in the first place prevents you from learning the lessons that you need to stay on top.

Imagine if AJ had spent some money and brought in top trainers and spent a year in film study to figure out anything that worked against Usyk going all the way back to Shawn Porter in the amateurs? It would have been a very different fight in the rematch.

But obviously it's hard to do that when you're already rich and famous.

 

It once again proves they had no intention of fighting Fury.
They're not even talking about fighting Whyte, who Fury recently KO'd, which would also be a duck.
But to fight the guy that lost to Whyte?
Come on.

 

Knowing Hearn, It'll be Franklin in April and Whyte 2 later in the year.

 

As has already been said it's nothing to do with who they thought won, although the fight being close does make Franklin more credible. They would choose Franklin over Whyte because Franklin has no stopping power at this level (he couldn't even take out Pavel Sour over 10, who Hughie, Gorman and Kabayel put away in 3, 2 and 1 respectively), because he's cheap and because it builds the Whyte fight, while giving Joshua activity and potentially building his confidence.

 

Franklin looked neat and tidy Vs Whyte and at times put his combinations together really well but lacks a true punch.
If he had any real dig he could be a tough night for Joshua as it is. He will be a confidence builder in theory - just how much does Joshua want it. He looked a spoiled brat after the 2nd fight. Its a long way back to the top when your not as good as you think you are.