Source: It was revealed to me in a dream To be clear, there is NO REASON on paper to assume that Franklin wins this fight. But everyone in AJ's camp just looks so bloody nervous. AJ in the presser saying he trusts in the Lord and 'What will be will be', talking about 'securing the bag' rather than about taking Franklin's head off. Always looking to talk about AFTER the fight, 'secure the bag, move on with my life', note he doesn't even say WIN and move on with his life, he gets paid win or lose. Saying Derrick James is always giving him medium-term goals that he responds well to, but again this seems to indicate a desire to look past this fight and into the future. Derrick J saying he would be happy with an AJ points win and was non-committal over saying he expected a KO, which to me tells me he doesn't want to put pressure on his fighter. Despite AJs physique suggesting that that is exactly the plan. Even Hearn looked nervous, and even admitted as much, in a post-weigh-in interview. I believe Franklin when he says he saw nerves in AJ's eyes. I have a hunch (and that is literally all this is) that AJ's fragile psychology is bleeding through to the rest of his team. With AJ being a stone heavier than for the Usyk fight; if he fails to get Franklin out of there by the mid-rounds I suspect there is a not-inconsiderable chance that his tank will empty, his confidence will go, and Franklin will have an opportunity to come on strong late, particularly as he appears to be in better shape than he was for the Whyte fight. This is a shame because I suspect Franklin is a bum, and we'll have to endure watching him get beaten-up by decent fighters for the next couple of years if he wins here. But, he is a bum catching AJ at a very precarious time. Going bold on this one: Franklin by late stoppage.
I have a feeling they may have paid Franklin to take a dive and make AJ look good again. Because AJ is the greatest money maker in boxing business today, despite his losses to Andy Ruiz Jr and Usyk. We've all seen they couldn't gather enough money to make Usyk vs Fury fight. Because neither of them are as popular and interesting as AJ, despite their success in the sport. Boxing needs AJ back.
Franklin couldn't KO a worse Whyte or even a Pavel Sour, so he won't KO nor win a decision against Joshua. Maybe AJ's team is nervous, there is a big pressure on AJ, if he looses this, his carreer is over, he can retire. But guys are forgetting that AJ is still a top fighter, he need to recover mentally, yes. But he improved his skills during Ruiz and Usyk fights, he's still one of the best powerpunchers & will probably knock Franklin out in late rounds and have a bigger fight later this year. Comfy game for AJ
On paper he absolutely is a superior fighter and it should be comfy, which makes his teams disposition all the more concerning. When it comes to pressure there are few Heavies more poorly equipped to deal with it than him on current evidence.
If Franklin wins after boxing Whyte to a draw then it will have to be by KO and you if get KO'd by Franklin you've got a glass chin. AJ will land on Franklin and finish him in classic AJ fashion. Franklin might be able to pull a Joe Parker and fight scared to survive 12 Even if he boxed like a god then the Eddie judges will give it to AJ anyway
If Franklin thinks he can beat Joshua, then he is badly mistaken, Franklin failed to knock out the glass chin Pavel Sour, who has 11 of his 15 defeats by knockout...
Expecting a Takam type fight, and a premature stoppage. When the bodybuilder throws a flurry that hits thin air!
Exactly how I’m seeing this fight too. It will just be Takam Part 2, pretty low-key affair which will end with a typical early British stoppage
Franklin is the level of opponent that AJ faced prior to picking up the easy first "world title" strap from Charles Martin when he turned up in a nappy and laid down like a baby. I cannot see this one lasting more than 6-7 rounds.
