Anthony Joshua labours to unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin

Anthony Joshua returned to winning ways but only after a laboured display in a unanimous points victory over Jermaine Franklin.

The Briton had lost three of his last five fights, which included consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, but he tasted success again for the first time since 2020 after the judges scored the London bout 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111 in favour of the home favourite.

Joshua regularly landed with his left jab and caught Franklin on a number of occasions with his powerful right but the American heavyweight stood firm.

A bizarre finish did occur at the O2 Arena with the 12th round appearing to end eight seconds early before Joshua pushed his head into Franklin and it sparked an angry reaction from Lorenzo Reynolds, the strength and conditioning coach of the American boxer, who pushed the Finchley fighter.

It was quickly settled and Joshua’s hand was lifted again to earn him a 25th professional win and keep alive hopes of a Battle of Britain with WBC champion Tyson Fury.

Joshua entered this fight without a victory in two-and-a-half years and with even those closest to him aware it was win or bust, but his heaviest ever frame of 18st 3lbs suggested he meant business.

Drama at the final bell! #JoshuaFranklin pic.twitter.com/vegJjiQiyY

— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) April 1, 2023

Back at the venue where his professional career began a decade ago, Joshua walked out with the trademark pyrotechnics and a live performance from rapper K-Trap while his opponent received boos.

It was Joshua’s left jab that did the business in the early rounds but he did get caught by a big right hand from Franklin in the second that bloodied the nose of the former two-time world heavyweight champion.

While Joshua did