Heavyweight boxing

JERMAINE FRANKLIN fumed that he deserves another shot at Dillian Whyte after being “robbed” of a win. The American was on the wrong end of a disputed majority decision verdict at Wembley Arena.
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin on points but the American felt hard done byCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Franklin made his feelings known after the fight and was adamant he deserved to travel home with an upset win.
He said: “I feel like I got robbed, I feel I’ve done enough to get the decision.
“I felt like I won earlier rounds. I just felt I got robbed on the decision. I had a seven week camp, I’ve done what I could.
“I’m down for a rematch if they give it to me, but I felt like I won, I felt like I got robbed on the decision.
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“I proved a lot of people wrong. I prove people wrong everyday , that’s what we do.
“A lot of people look and they judge but they don’t have the heart to step in here and fight.”
Whyte, 34, had the right to exercise a rematch clause if he lost but Franklin, 29, was not given such a luxury.
But the beaten contender feels he is owed a second fight and that Whyte knows that too.
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Franklin said: “He knows he didn’t win the fight, that’s how I feel.
“Honestly, as a man, you know when you take an L and you know when you win.
“I know deep down inside, he knows that he didn’t pull that victory through, so I feel I deserve another shot, honestly.”
Dillian Whyte has been called out to a rematch by Jermaine FranklinCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

ANTHONY JOSHUA is confident John Fury will not let his son walk away from boxing without the pair finally fighting. The heavyweight rivals have tried but failed to agree terms in the past for a Battle of Britain, most recently for December 3 in Wales.
Anthony Joshua is still holding out hope of a fight with Tyson Fury
Tyson Fury pictured with his dad JohnCredit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
But AJ is hoping Fury’s no-nonsense father John will be the man to help finally get the fight over the line before they both retire.
Joshua told iFL TV: “If you listen to what he says, it’s up and down. But I’m sure he’ll fight me.
“I don’t think his dad will let him not fight me. His dad’s a proper guy. I like his dad.”
Joshua, 33, is coming off consecutive points losses to Oleksandr Usyk, 35, which set the Ukrainian up for a unification bout.
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But Usyk had ruled himself out until next year, which led to Fury, 34, calling out AJ to fight next month in Cardiff.
Eventually, negotiations collapsed and the WBC champion will instead return in a trilogy bout against Derek Chisora, 38, who he has twice beaten.
Whereas Joshua is primed to return in early 2023 and has Fury and Deontay Wilder, 37, in his plans for next year.
He said: “(Fury) or Wilder. Both. Both of them will be a hard night’s work. Yeah, 2023 is him (Fury) or Wilder. Or both.”
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Joshua was ringside to watch Dillian Whyte, 34, edge past Jermaine Franklin, 29, in a razor thin majority decision victory.
It has set up a rematch for the pair in the near future – possibly next – but AJ was left unimpressed.
He said: “If I was a trainer I would expect my fighter to knock someone like Jermaine Franklin out.
“With all due respect, with the experience and power Dillian has. Let’s be honest, Jermaine Franklin was not there to give Dillian any problems.
“That was his time to go out and put on a spectacular performance: ‘bang, bang, I’m back on the scene, I ain’t messing about, my passion, power and skills are still there’.
“That was the type of fight Dillian wanted but it was difficult, Jermaine Franklin made it tough, credit to him. Dillian will go again next year.”
Anthony Joshua embraces with Dillian WhyteCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing More

DEONTAY WILDER is willing to do whatever it takes to fight Anthony Joshua next and cancel out a rematch with Dillian Whyte. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed AJ and Whyte are in line to complete a hat-trick of bouts between them sometime in 2023.
Deontay Wilder is ready to fight Anthony Joshua nextCredit: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
Anthony Joshua is in line to rematch Dillian Whyte in 2023Credit: Getty
But Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel CONFIRMED the American is ready to return right into a super-fight with Joshua, 33.
Even if that means surrendering their WBC title eliminator bout against Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, such is their desperation to finally face AJ.
Finkel told SunSport: “We might fight Ruiz, because Joshua won’t fight us, but we will fight Joshua next.
“The biggest fight for either is with us, maybe in your area the biggest fight is Joshua versus Fury, but Fury is fighting Oleksandr Usyk next. 
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“If Joshua is ready or willing to fight us next, that is what we want and we will give anything to fight him. 
“This has been a five-year campaign and each time they always try to say we have avoided it. 
“Right now is the 28th of November, we’re saying why not fight next? Let’s just make the fight.”
If Hearn insists on Joshua rematching Whyte, 34, before fighting Wilder, 37, Finkel is open to at least making it official.
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He said: “If you’re telling us you want a fight first before us, then sign to fight after, let’s make a deal.” 
Whyte set up a potential rematch with Joshua after edging past Jermaine Franklin, 29, in a disputed majority decision victory.
It was his second win in four fights, following knockout losses to Tyson Fury, 34, and Alexander Povetkin, 43.
So Finkel slammed the idea of Joshua returning against Whyte, when a deal is there to be made with Wilder.
The Hall of Famer said: “He says Joshua will fight Deontay after their next fight, why? 
If Joshua is ready or willing to fight us next, that is what we want and we will give anything to fight him. Deontay Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel
“They want to fight Dillian Whyte, who yesterday was in a questionable win.
“The fight before that, he got knocked out, and two fights before that he got knocked out. 
“How does the press and anyone else rationalise Joshua fighting someone like that in his next fight? 
“And if they say, ‘We’re definitely fighting Deontay after’ why isn’t there an agreement done?” 
Joshua has taken a break from boxing after consecutive losses to Usyk, 35, while Wilder knocked out Robert Helenius, 38, in his October return.
In the past, TV network and promotional allegiances have seen a fight between AJ and the Bronze Bomber fall by the wayside.
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But Finkel is adamant all parties – from their side at least – are on board to finally strike an agreement with the opposition.
He said: “Deontay, Shelly Finkel and PBC are willing to make a fight for Deontay to fight Joshua next.” 
Anthony Joshua pictured with Shelly Finkel in 2017Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Shelly Finkel with Deontay Wilder in 2018Credit: AFP or licensors More

DILLIAN WHYTE punched his way into a rematch with Anthony Joshua after narrowly edging past Jermaine Franklin. Whyte left Wembley Arena with a disputed majority decision win, returning for the first time since defeat to Tyson Fury.
Dillian Whyte beat Jermaine Franklin by majority decisionCredit: Rex
But Eddie Hearn warned the heavyweight and AJ could instead have different fights in early 2023 before a summer stadium rematch.
So it leaves the door open for who Whyte will fight next, with several options on the table.
Here, SunSport looks at the contenders in play.
Anthony Joshua
Joshua, 33, remains a frontrunner to face Whyte, 34, next year as the pair embraced at ringside.
Hearn has opened the door to the pair rematching right away, with AJ keen to return straight into a big fight.
Joshua lost to Whyte in the amateurs in 2009 but won their rematch six years later by brutal stoppage.
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte embraceCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
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Otto Wallin
Whyte still has unfinished business with Wallin, 32, having pulled out of their proposed October 2021 through injury.
He instead went on to challenge Fury, 34, for the WBC belt, while leaving Swede Wallin in the lurch.
Should the AJ rematch fail to come off next, Whyte and Wallin have the shared history to build interest in a fill-in fight.
Otto Wallin still wants to fight Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty
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Daniel Dubois
Before signing to fight Franklin, 29, Whyte almost agreed a deal to face Dubois, 24, on BT pay-per-view.
Eventually, his financial demands were not met, leaving the bout shelved for now.
But it remains a massive fight should Whyte need to look elsewhere and Dubois has the WBA’s secondary “regular” title to bring to the table.
Daniel Dubois came close to fighting Dillian WhyteCredit: Reuters
Jermaine Franklin rematch
Franklin felt he was “robbed” of a win against Whyte, leading to calls for a rematch by the American and fans online.
Whyte seemed less convinced in the post-fight press conference but a lack of options could see the pair box once more.
And it could even pave the way for Whyte to do so Stateside, although any alternative seems unlikely.
Dillian Whyte narrowly beat Jermaine Franklin on pointsCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Deontay Wilder
Wilder, 37, has long feuded with Whyte dating back to his years as WBC champion, when he never defended his belt against the Brit.
The Bronze Bomber is now in line to fight Andy Ruiz Jr, 33, for the right to challenge for Fury’s belt.
It makes a fight with Whyte unlikely, although Hearn previously teased that he had a deal in place for the pair in the Middle East.
Deontay Wilder has long feuded with Dillian WhyteCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

DILLIAN WHYTE secured an Anthony Joshua rematch by the skin of his teeth after edging past Jermaine Franklin on points.The 34-year-old beat AJ in the amateurs but lost their 2015 British title battle and a third clash is all but secured after the London 2012 legend turned up to be ringside at Wembley arena for Whyte’s win on Saturday.
Dillian Whyte edged Jermaine Franklin on a split decision at Wembley ArenaCredit: Getty
Whyte unconvincing win sets up a rematch with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn were watching ringsideCredit: PA
But after Whyte drastically underperformed – and the three officials called it 115-115, 116-112 and 116-112 – Joshua will not fear his own Spring comeback against his oldest foe.
Franklin, 29, arrived from the US with an impressive 21-0 record but when he whipped off his top to reveal a flabby torso, ringside fans expected a cakewalk for Dillian and a Sunday morning trip to the bakery for the visitor.
But Franklin showed a clever jab, a decent left hook and all the fundamentals to pose Whyte a problem.
The Brixton Body Snatcher went whacking Franklin’s ribs in the second but he was tagged back more times than new trainer Buddy McGirt would have been happy with.
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The bout was one-paced and even after two rounds and the Londoner was looking more flat-footed than usual.
Mohawk-sporting Whyte had the sweat slapped off his scalp in the third and Franklin, who was working in a housing insulation factory before this big break, knew how to protect himself.
Whyte’s modest Wembley arena crowd managed a roar in the fourth when their hero connected with his first meaningful combination.
But Franklin laughed off the shots and got back to peppereding Whyte’s guard as he struggled to get out of second gear.
Whyte was given a real scare by FranklinCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
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Whyte was warned in the fifth when his trademark body blows creeped too low for the referee’s liking.
Whyte had caught or parried most of Franklin’s shots until a sixth-round right hook tagged him flush on the chin. The Jamaica-born bruiser looked buzzed for a moment but regained his cool.
Franklin was superior in the eighth and AJ could be spotted in the VIP seats smiling at his potential prey and pointing out weaknesses to his pals.
By round nine there were boos in the underwhelmed crowd until a Whyte left hook clipped Franklin. But the Michigan man got payback with a booming right that hurt Whyte right on the bell.
Whyte looped in a powerful right hand right at the end of the 10th but Franklin seemed to like it and shouted at his rival’s back as he returned to his corner.
Fans were glad to see the final round finally arrive as the atmosphere had left North Greenwich well before the last tube.
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Whyte rocked Franklin in the final 40 seconds and bounced him off the ropes with another whack in the final five.
But he was too tired to capitalise and it went to the judges. More