American heavyweight Jermain Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) is turning into a top British boxing expert. In November, he competitively lost to ex-challenger Dillian Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs), and in April he will fight with ex-champion Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs).
But that is not all. On the eve of the fight with White, he sparred with one of the current leaders of the division – WBC champion Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs).
Franklin
believesthat if Fury agrees on unification with the owner of the remaining heavyweight belts, Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs), he will win: “Why do I think that Tyson will win? I think that if he moves and boxes the way he knows how to do it, then Usyk will not beat him.”
Usyk took the WBA Super, IBF and WBO belts from Joshua. Franklin studied that fight well, repelled from it in his analysis: “I’m not going to somehow underestimate Usyk. But Fury’s arms are longer than Joshua’s. And given his very solid jab, it will be much more difficult for Alexander to break through to close range. Add Fury’s moves to everything.”
According to Franklin, “It will be harder for Usyk to land his punches compared to the fight against Joshua. Fury leans a lot on the jab. He is more of an elusive and awkward fighter. I think it is the jab that will bring fury victory over Usyk.
The question is whether Usyk and Fury will be able to agree on a fight. The Briton said the other day: “No result.” And a little earlier he admitted that “the biggest test is not Usyk himself, but the organization of this fight.”
But his promoter is optimistic and even called the final date of the fight.