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Joshua vs Franklin LIVE! Boxing updates and undercard results
Anthony Joshua is officially back tonight as he makes his return to the ring in London. The two-time world heavyweight champion effectively puts his illustrious career on the line against Jermaine Franklin, desperately seeking a statement comeback victory after consecutive damaging defeats by Oleksandr Usyk and three losses in his last five contests.
Joshua has claimed that he will retire from boxing if he loses to the American this evening, but in reality he’s a huge favourite for a destructive triumph that could yet set up a mammoth summer showdown with Tyson Fury having bulked up to a career-heaviest weight under the tutelage of new trainer Derrick James. But Franklin is not an opponent to underestimate, having pushed Joshua’s nemesis Dillian Whyte all the way before a contentious points defeat.
British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley stopped Michael Coffie to win the vacant WBA Continental belt on the undercard, with Galal Yafai also easing past Moises Calleros after Campbell Hatton scored a quick stoppage of Louis Fielding and Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams forced River Wilson-Bent’s corner to throw in the towel. Follow Joshua vs Franklin live below!
Live updates
Joshua vs Franklin next
That’s the full undercard all done and dusted!
Don’t go anywhere, folks – Anthony Joshua’s big return against Jermaine Franklin is NEXT at London’s O2 Arena.
Fascinated to see where they go next with Wardley.
A big domestic showdown with Frazer Clarke has been mooted, though Hearn also mentions David Adeleye and Sol Dacres.
All great fights.
A lot of criticism of referee Howard Foster there – many including Tony Bellew and Dillian Whyte at ringside suggest that stoppage was just too early.
Coffie was raging at the decision, it must be said.
But the stoppage was coming from Wardley regardless, it would only have taken a few more seconds.
Wardley stops Coffie early in fifth
Ferocious from Wardley!
He backs Coffie against the ropes again and thunders down more punishing right hands.
Coffie desperately tries to cover up but it’s a torrid flurry that causes the referee to step in and wave off the fight early in the fifth.
The American is furious – he feels he was fine to continue!
Wardley vs Coffie
Wardley chases Coffie to the ropes, crunching in some shuddering body shots.
But the American lands one of his own that may well have hurt the British champion, who is caught in the corner for a brief worrying moment.
Wardley throws out an enormous right hand that just misses the target, before again backing Coffie against the ropes and looking to let his right hand go as his opponent turns the shoulder to limit the damage.
Wardley goes back to jabbing well with the left, but is struggling to find a home for the follow-up right.
Coffie is also trying to establish his own sharp left jab towards the end of the third.
Wardley vs Coffie
After getting tagged hard so early, Coffie is very cautious indeed as Wardley continues to throw out that left jab, doubling up on it in the second and trying to set up the bigger punches – including the massive overhand right.
One or two warning flashes of the right from Coffie that don’t find the mark.
Not too much action as Coffie tries to stay away from danger, but Wardley finishes the round well with some swinging shots upstairs.
Wardley vs Coffie
A superb start from the confident Wardley, who rocks Coffie early with a big shot upstairs and forces the American to back away.
This is measured, impressive stuff from the British champion, who now works with Tyson Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison.
He isn’t getting ahead of himself, patiently setting up his attacks nicely with the left jab.
Coffie is yet to land much, though he does clearly have some power in that right.
Wardley vs Coffie
Here we go!
The co-main event of the night is underway…
Wardley vs Coffie
The Ipswich Town crest adorns Fabio Wardley’s velvet blue gown as he makes his way confidently to the ring – what a win they had over Derby earlier in the League One promotion race.
The pride of Suffolk has racked up 15 consecutive wins – 14 by knockout – since his pro debut in 2018, winning the British heavyweight title with an early stoppage of Nathan Gorman on the Whyte-Franklin undercard in November.
He also stopped both Chris Healey and Daniel Martz in 2022.
Wardley vs Coffie
Here comes Michael Coffie!
The big American is 13-3 with 10 knockouts, but all of those defeats have come in his last four bouts – two by Jonathan Rice and one against Armenian Gurgen Hovhannisyan.
His last win came against Colombian Fulgencio Zuniga last summer.
Coffie is a native of Brooklyn, New York but fights out of Orlando, Florida.
