Boxing

FABIO WARDLEY sank his second beverage-related boxer by beating Michael Coffie inside four.The 28-year-old Suffolk puncher grinded down Richard Lartey in 2020.
Fabio Wardley celebrates after his fourth-round bombardment meant it was tough beans for Michael Coffie at the The O2 ArenaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Wardley put Coffie through the mixer to take the vacant WBA Continental heavyweight title in London on Saturday nightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
And he did the hot-drink double by battering his latest American foe on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin.
Manager Dillian Whyte was in Wardley’s corner for his protege’s chief-support slot.
And he hyped up the crowd by waving his arms to urge the Greenwich fans to get loud for his star understudy.
Wardley cracked the switch-hitter with a vicious right hand in the opening minute and targeted his thick body.
READ MORE TOP BOXING
Coffie threw a few haymakers to show he was in town to win but Wardley’s defence has improved drastically and he bobbed and weaved out of danger.
Coffie, 36, had more success in the second, catching the Tractor Boy with jabs and switching stance.
Wardley made a dream start to the third, with three loud right hands landing.
But he dozed off shortly after and got caught a couple of times, one Coffie left hook to the ribs must have stung and too many jabs tagged his face.
Most read in Boxing
BETTING SPECIAL – BEST FOOTBALL BETTING SITES IN THE UK
Then, as soon as the fourth started, Wardley steamed in and unloaded a dozen shots from both booming hands.
Coffie was pinned against the ropes and taking punishment when his Philly-shell stance failed to block the onslaught.
After one too many landed flush on his chin, referee Howard Foster dived in to stop the fight.
Coffie was fuming, pushed the official way and screamed into the crowd: “Get the f*** out of here.”
He walked across the ring showing no signs of pain but, when pinned against the ropes, he did look in danger. More

JERMAINE FRANKLIN proved he’s a man of the people – by taking the TUBE to his fight with Anthony Joshua.The American was hand-picked to be the comeback opponent for the first fight of AJ’s career rebuild – which he hoped to kick off at the O2 Arena tonight.
Jermaine Franklin will bid to derail Anthony Joshua’s bid to return to the win columnCredit: SPLASH
American Franklin is a soft-spoken and modest manCredit: SPLASH
And he snubbed a luxury car to the arena in favour of the Jubilee Line to the O2 ArenaCredit: SPLASH
Most fighters headlining the North Greenwich dome normally get a five-star ride to the hallowed arena.
Listen to free live commentary of Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin on talkSPORT. Download the app.
But not Franklin, who opted to hop on the Jubilee line with fight fans for the biggest bout of his career.
Franklin’s manager, Sal Jobe, told SunSport: “We were travelling from Canary Wharf, so it was only one stop because the Blackwall. Tunnel is closed.
“Getting from Canary Wharf from The O2 in a card would’ve been an hour and 30 minutes.
READ MORE IN BOXIN
And usually, it’s 15 minutes. So we travelled from Canary Wharf one step to Greenwhich and we had cars waiting for us.”
Boxing fans will have no doubt been stunned by Franklin getting the tube to the arena – although they’ll be even more aghast if the Michigan mauler shocks the world and hands AJ a third consecutive loss.
Defeat tonight could spell the end of Joshua’s career, but Franklin insists the former two-time heavyweight champ should continue fighting if he loses.
He said: “A lot of people are painting the picture that if AJ loses this might be the end of his career and if I win this might project my career.
Most read in Boxing
BETTING SPECIAL – ODDS AND OFFERS FOR JOSHUA vs FRANKLIN
“I don’t buy that if I beat him he has to retire because if I say that it means I’m a bum.
“The world is saying that basically if AJ loses to a guy like me then he’s done but I don’t feel like that’s true.
“AJ can still beat a lot of guys, I just feel confident enough that I can win. I feel like the world is still sleeping on me.”
Joshua, however, reckons his glittering story will be over with a third loss on the bounce.

🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
He said: “How long can this run go on for, three or four years?
“And you know how quick time goes.
“We’re saying this now and we can look back in two years, three years, and be like f***ing hell where’s the time gone?
“So, if I was going to do another run after this, you’re talking about fighting into my forties.
“And I truly believe that boxing is a young man’s sport.
Read More on The Sun
“It takes a real solid character like Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin, to go on into their forties.
“But I think this is a run I want to make successful and then, you know, hopefully, go out on top.” More

CAMPBELL HATTON returned to the ring in spectacular fashion courtesy of a body shot his old man would’ve been proud of.Hatton – the son of British boxing legend Ricky – returned to action on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin at The O2 Arena on Saturday night.

Campbell Hatton returned to action on the Joshua vs Franklin undercard of FranklinCredit: Reuters
Hatton sent Fielding crashing to the canvas with a brutal body shotCredit: THE SUN
Standing between Hatton and a perfect 11-0 record was fellow Brit Louis Fielding.
But the Tamworth tussler was no match for the heavy-handed Hatton – who bagged a scintillating first-round stoppage courtesy of a nasty body shot.
Campbell dug a beautiful left hook to the body of Fielding after pinging his head off with slick jabs.
Fielding contemplated returning to his feet but decided midway through the count that the pain was too much.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Fight fans were quick to comment Hatton’s latest destructive outing, with one saying: “Campbell Hatton – sensational.”
Another said: “What a body shot from Hatton.”
And another said: “Like father like son.”
One remarked: “CAMPBELL HATTON WAS DESTRUCTIVE. SHADES OF HIS DAD… but better.
Most read in Boxing
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
Another chimed in: “Some body shot from Campbell Hatton.”
An elated Campbell said in his post-fight interview: “I took my time and picked my shot.
“It was a split-second shot but a delayed reaction from him.
“It would have been nice to show a bit more because in previous fights I have rushed my work and not replicated what I do in the gym.
“In sparring I show lots of things over lots of rounds but I will happily take one-round wins all the time.”
Campbell, 22, began sparring with dad and trainer Ricky at the tender age of 14.
And he ended up feeling the full force of his old man’s hellacious body shots.
Campbell recently recalled: “I threw a shot.
Read More on The Sun
“Muscle memory – he has pulled out the way and then come flying in, big left hook to the body.
“I hit the deck and I’m rolling, trying to breathe. I hear him over me, ‘S***, don’t tell your mum.'” More

LENNOX LEWIS has been left concerned by Anthony Joshua scaling a career-heaviest for his fight with Jermaine Franklin. Joshua returns tonight and will do so back at the O2 Arena, where he first became heavyweight champion.
Lennox Lewis is concerned by Anthony Joshua scaling a career-heaviestCredit: PA
Anthony Joshua weighed in at 18st 3lbsCredit: Splash
Listen to free live commentary of Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin on talkSPORT. Download the app.
But instead of challenging for titles, AJ is instead fighting to revive his career with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
And the size of the occasion has seen Joshua, 33, bulk to 18st 3lbs when he weighed in yesterday.
British boxing legend Lewis was asked about whether he believes AJ coming in heavy will come as a disadvantage.
He replied: “Hard to say but it is concerning.”
READ MORE AJ VS FRANKLIN:
Joshua was 244lbs – 17st 6lbs – for the heartbreaking second Oleksandr Usyk defeat in August and 4lb lighter for the first.
But AJ weighed a hulking 255lbs – 1lb heavier than his previous most hefty against Carlos Takam in 2017.
And he warned Franklin to expect a brutal battle.
He said: “I’ve got my gameplan, I’ve got my mind right, and I’m just ready to go to war.
Most read in Boxing

🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
“I know I’ve got the possibility of [a knockout win], 100 per cent, but there’s a process to get there. I just follow that process.”
Franklin, 29, said: He’s probably bulked up a little bit, but we’re ready for whatever.
“We got a chin of steel, so I’m not worried too much about power, he’s still got to be able to touch me with it.”
Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin ahead of their fightCredit: Splash More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has reportedly taken a whopping pay cut for his comeback fight with Jermaine Franklin.The former two-time unified heavyweight champion will bid to get back in the win column at the O2 tonight following consecutive losses to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
Anthony Joshua returns to the ring tonight for a showdown with Jermaine FranklinCredit: Splash
The fight will be AJ’s first since back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr UsykCredit: AFP
The Brit is set to earn a staggering £55million LESS for his fight with Franklin than he did against UsykCredit: SPLASH
AJ earned a pretty penny for his back-to-back bouts with the undefeated Ukrainian, pocketing £65million for their Saudi showdown last August.
Listen to free live commentary of Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin on talkSPORT. Download the app.
But he’s set to receive a staggering £55m LESS for his do-or-die dust-up with American gunslinger Franklin.
That’s according to The Mirror, who claim the golden boy of British boxing will pocket a cool £10million for his return to the O2.
Franklin will reportedly take home around £800,OOO for his second fight in the UK – but this could rise to over £1m should he spring a huge shock.
READ MORE IN BOXING
Despite having already banked millions of pounds, Joshua admits adding a few more zeroes to his bank account is one of his primary motivations for the latter stages of his career.
When asked in February what is driving him on, he told Eddie Hearn: “Money.
“I like making money. Straight up. Like, this is a prizefighting sport.
“I’ve been broke. My family has been broke.
Most read in Boxing
“I know what this s*** means and I do it because I’m good at it and I hustle hard.
BETTING SPECIAL – ODDS AND OFFERS FOR JOSHUA vs FRANKLIN
“When it’s all said and done no-one will care about me no more.
“So, I’ve got to make the most of it while I’m here.”
Defeat to Franklin will end Joshua’s hopes of getting back into the world title picture, a fact he’s all too aware of.
He said: “How long can this run go on for, three or four years?
“And you know how quick time goes.

🥊 Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
“We’re saying this now and we can look back in two years, three years, and be like f***ing hell where’s the time gone?
“So, if I was going to do another run after this, you’re talking about fighting into my forties.
“And I truly believe that boxing is a young man’s sport,
Read More on The Sun
“It takes a real solid character like Bernard Hopkins, George Foreman, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin, to go on into their forties.
“But I think this is a run I want to make successful and then, you know, hopefully, go out on top.” More