Anthony Joshua is aware of a Battle of Britain with Tyson Fury is the combat “the boxing world needs” to see after he survived his “do or die” conflict with Jermaine Franklin.
Joshua laboured to his first victory since 2020 with a unanimous factors resolution success over the American heavyweight on the O2 Arena.
After back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, the previous Olympic champion couldn’t afford one other loss on his CV with retirement speak the elephant within the room since Usyk received his world titles in Tottenham two years in the past.
While it was removed from classic from Joshua at his outdated stomping floor, the judges scored 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111 in favour of the house boxer, who usually landed his left jab and related with a number of thunderous proper punches with out pushing Franklin to the purpose of no return.
It means the two-time world heavyweight champion lives to combat one other day and he is aware of all roads lead again to rival Fury.
“Dillian Whyte or Tyson Fury? Well, 100% Tyson Fury,” Joshua (who took his document to 25-3, with 22 knockouts) insisted.
“That is the pot of gold. That is the WBC heavyweight champion of the world. That’s what it’s all about so undoubtedly Tyson Fury.
“Yeah (another warm-up fight) would be ideal, after that long lay-off, to get active. But sometimes an opportunity presents itself and you have to grab it with both hands.
“In that sense, if the opportunity presented itself and coach and team agree it is a good opportunity, I would take it and grab it with both hands, 100%. The boxing world needs it.”
Given Joshua had misplaced three of his earlier 5 fights, an enormous query for the Watford-born boxer was if he nonetheless had the motivation, however a devoted coaching camp in Dallas with new coach Derrick James confirmed that over the winter.
The early rounds of his eighth exhibiting on the O2 have been dominated by his left jab and the occasional proper hook, which Franklin was capable of take impressively.
Franklin had misplaced to Whyte at Wembley Arena in November, however was in a lot better form and blooded the nostril of Joshua within the second earlier than his holding examined the frustration of his opponent.
Referee Marcus McDonell warned the pair on numerous events and but the scrappy nature of the heavyweight conflict remained regardless of explosive finishes to the latter rounds.
A weird conclusion noticed the twelfth spherical ended early and Joshua pressed his head into Franklin after the bell, which resulted within the American’s energy and health coach Lorenzo Reynolds shoving the Finchley fighter.
Joshua acknowledged: “Deep down I am not happy because the ultimate goal is a knock-out. Nothing can top a knock-out. But it is what it is.
“There were opportunities for sure where I pushed, but I was fighting someone and you come in with a plan to win. He had a good camp and you could see he came off a good 12 rounds with Dillian.
“He said he was fit and fresher, so he did well to stay in. I wish I could have taken him.
“He wanted to win and round by round we are talking to each other, I am pushing his head and s***, so there is a bit of ego and pride that happens in the ring. It just spills over into the final bell. That’s all it is but it is all respect.”
Even although this was the primary time in 13 fights the place no world titles have been on the road for Joshua, he insisted the eagerness for the game stays excessive with Fury high of his record for future opponents, particularly after the WBC belt holder noticed talks with Usyk over a unification conflict collapse.
“Do or die? That’s a great experience to compete in front of 20,000 people. There’s no pressure. Honestly it is a blessing. When I look out of that ring after a fight, I am like, ‘s*** that is nuts. Look at all them people’. It is humbling,” the 33-year-old added.
“I am definitely passionate about the game, 100%, for so many reasons. The list is long and I am committed until it’s done.
“The reality I am living is we are still chasing something. Yeah, I’m still chasing the dream.”