Anthony Joshua’s comeback fight was billed as the “new dawn” but Saturday’s tentative unanimous decision win at London’s O2 Arena over a limited Jermaine Franklin did little to silence his critics or concern his heavyweight rivals.
The Brit had his arm raised in victory for the first time in over two years after back-to-back defeats to champion Oleksandr Usk, but this was not the statement performance many had hoped for, that would have fuelled belief of a new and exciting era for the 33-year-old.
Joshua had been under pressure to deliver an explosive knockout against gutsy and resistant American Franklin, but instead settled for a 117-111, 117-111, 118-111 landslide on the judges’ scorecards.
And his rivals were left less than impressed on a night where Joshua finally got back to winning ways but failed to showcase the aggression that proves he means business in his bid to become a three-time world champion.
Dillian Whyte, who laboured to a majority decision victory over the durable Franklin last November, is widely being tipped as Joshua’s next opponent if a blockbuster showdown with Tyson Fury is not made. But he pointed to Joshua’s lack of killer-instinct when an opportunity arose in the final rounds to dispatch Franklin.
“I don’t think he looked particularly good tonight,” Whyte said.”He seems a bit apprehensive, the right hand is still there and the boxing skills are still there, but the aggression is not there.”
“The difference is in the last two rounds I went after Franklin, he didn’t. “I’ll always have a go, win, lose or draw, I’ll have a go.”
Fellow top-10 ranked heavyweight Otto Wallin believes Joshua has lost his mojo after an unconvincing 12 rounds on his return.
“Joshua is not the same guy anymore,” the Swedish fighter wrote on Twitter. “His head is gone and the stuff after the fight shows it even more. He’s feeling too much pressure.”
Carl Froch, meanwhile, questioned Joshua’s motivation to continue fighting after his win. “In the ring at world title level he’s been there, done the business. And now I don’t know. What motivates him?” Froch asked, speaking on BBC 5 Live.
“’We talked about it, he wants the money. I don’t understand why he’s fighting. I just don’t. It’s a dangerous sport. Money can’t be the motivation when you’ve earned over £100m.’
The former world super middleweight champion added: “I’ve not seen anything in that performance that he wants to be a world champion again.”
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