10 rounder on the Shields vs. Hammer undercard on Showtime next month. Perhaps the strangest heavyweight fight we are likely to see on the calendar this year. Here's a thread I did on 25 year old Jermaine (then only 23) in October 2017, since which time he has fought four more times, but without a significant step up until now (if we can call Booker that), and most of his opposition being a regression from Muralimov: Jermaine "The Wildcat" Franklin Jr. As for Booker (mostly remembered today for his loss to James Toney), here's a thread I did a few months after the one spotlighting Franklin, to announce Rydell's... interesting choice to return from a fourteen year layoff due to incarceration: "Rock 'N' Rydell" Booker has returned... Booker is 13 years older than Franklin, and had served a decade of his sentence already when the younger man debuted. Booker has an inch over Franklin, standing at six feet and three inches. I have to say, this has serious train-wreck appeal for me. I hope Showtime does televise it, although it won't help the stigma of circus atmosphere that already surrounds a female main event in this sport..
I have some serious doubts in Franklin's ability. I was optimistic at start but my hopes have died down. I have seen couple of his last fights and I have to say that, I don't see much power and body movement. His body movement seems akward. I wouldn't be suprised if Booker beats him, you never know with Franklin.
