Tag: dillian whyte

Anthony Joshua gets victory over Jermaine Franklin but fails to make statement

Anthony Joshua claimed a victory over Jermaine Franklin but failed to make a statement Saturday in London.

Was it one of Anthony Joshua’s best performances? Far from it. Was it a step in the right direction? A small one.

Joshua demonstrated that he is a level above the shorter, lighter Jermaine Franklin, outboxing the American to win a one-sided decision at O2 Arena in London. It was the former unified champ’s first victory since 2020.

That was the good news.

The bad news was that he still didn’t fight with his pre-Andy Ruiz Jr. ferocity and failed to score a knockout even though Franklin seemed ripe for one late in the fight, which left his fans disappointed and allowed questions about Joshua to linger.

At the same time, a victory is a victory. And this one could lead to big things, possibly even a shot at beltholder Tyson Fury.

“I wish I could’ve knocked him out, 100 percent,” Joshua said, “but in the next 15 years no one is going to remember that fight anyway.”

That’s true. It was forgettable.

Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) was coming off back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the first of which cost him his heavyweight titles.

The former champ needed to get back into the win column and, in a perfect world, make a statement in the process to put his fellow contenders on notice. The first part of that goal turned out to easy.

Joshua fought tentatively in the early rounds but controlled them, connecting repeatedly with his stiff jab and following with hard, accurate right hands to keep the aggressive Franklin at a safe distance.

Gaining confidence by the middle rounds, Joshua became more assertive. He stood his ground, even taking the fight to Franklin. He was still jabbing but throwing and landing more power shots, which began to wear down his overmatched opponent.

And anytime Franklin got close enough to even think about turning the tide, Joshua tied him up, which frustrated both underdog and those hoping to see a competitive fight down the stretch.

The only drama in the late rounds was whether Joshua could find a way to take out Franklin (21-2, 14 KOs). Joshua didn’t exactly throw caution to the wind but he continued to throw ill-intended power punchers. Franklin simply has a good chin and was determined to survive.

So Joshua had to settle for a wide decision in his first fight with respected trainer Derrick James. The official scores were 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110, 10 rounds to Two.

“For me it was all about him coming out and getting the win,” James said. “Like I said, I don’t care how he won it. I just wanted him to win. After this, we’ll come back and build and build and build. …

“… Toward the end, yeah, he looked like [Franklin[ was ready to go. I told [Joshua] to pick up the pace a bit in the last couple of rounds. That comes with time. With more and more work together, he’ll more and more be able to do exactly what I need him to do.”

Is this version of Joshua ready to take on Fury, who is generally considered the best heavyweight in the world? Well, we might find out.

Joshua was asked in the ring about what might come next. He said, “I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want?” The packed crowd at O2 loudly and clearly gave him the response he expected, “Fury!.”

“The ball is in his court,” Joshua said of his rival, with whom he engaged in failed negotiations late last year. “I would be 100 percent honored to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. … If you’re listening, you know my management, you know my promoter.

“We’ve had dialogue before. Let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this sorted out sooner rather than later. We’re not getting any younger.”

Said his promoter, Eddie Hearn: “We’re willing to entertain those conversations now, to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer. You got Dillian Whyte down there [in the arena]. You got Deontay Wilder. You got a lot of good fighters.

“I think he’s going to improve under Derrick James. There was a lot of pressure [on Saturday] and a lot of improvements to make. At the same time, he’s going to want the big fights as well.”

Only one thing is certain, according to Joshua: He’ll be back in the ring this summer. We’ll see who’s standing across from him.

Anthony Joshua gets victory over Jermaine Franklin but fails to make statement

Anthony Joshua claimed a victory over Jermaine Franklin but failed to make a statement Saturday in London.

Was it one of Anthony Joshua’s best performances? Far from it. Was it a step in the right direction? A small one.

Joshua demonstrated that he is a level above the shorter, lighter Jermaine Franklin, outboxing the American to win a one-sided decision at O2 Arena in London. It was the former unified champ’s first victory since 2020.

That was the good news.

The bad news was that he still didn’t fight with his pre-Andy Ruiz Jr. ferocity and failed to score a knockout even though Franklin seemed ripe for one late in the fight, which left his fans disappointed and allowed questions about Joshua to linger.

At the same time, a victory is a victory. And this one could lead to big things, possibly even a shot at beltholder Tyson Fury.

“I wish I could’ve knocked him out, 100 percent,” Joshua said, “but in the next 15 years no one is going to remember that fight anyway.”

That’s true. It was forgettable.

Joshua (25-3, 22 KOs) was coming off back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, the first of which cost him his heavyweight titles.

The former champ needed to get back into the win column and, in a perfect world, make a statement in the process to put his fellow contenders on notice. The first part of that goal turned out to easy.

Joshua fought tentatively in the early rounds but controlled them, connecting repeatedly with his stiff jab and following with hard, accurate right hands to keep the aggressive Franklin at a safe distance.

Gaining confidence by the middle rounds, Joshua became more assertive. He stood his ground, even taking the fight to Franklin. He was still jabbing but throwing and landing more power shots, which began to wear down his overmatched opponent.

And anytime Franklin got close enough to even think about turning the tide, Joshua tied him up, which frustrated both underdog and those hoping to see a competitive fight down the stretch.

The only drama in the late rounds was whether Joshua could find a way to take out Franklin (21-2, 14 KOs). Joshua didn’t exactly throw caution to the wind but he continued to throw ill-intended power punchers. Franklin simply has a good chin and was determined to survive.

So Joshua had to settle for a wide decision in his first fight with respected trainer Derrick James. The official scores were 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110, 10 rounds to Two.

“For me it was all about him coming out and getting the win,” James said. “Like I said, I don’t care how he won it. I just wanted him to win. After this, we’ll come back and build and build and build. …

“… Toward the end, yeah, he looked like [Franklin[ was ready to go. I told [Joshua] to pick up the pace a bit in the last couple of rounds. That comes with time. With more and more work together, he’ll more and more be able to do exactly what I need him to do.”

Is this version of Joshua ready to take on Fury, who is generally considered the best heavyweight in the world? Well, we might find out.

Joshua was asked in the ring about what might come next. He said, “I know who the fans want. Who do the fans want?” The packed crowd at O2 loudly and clearly gave him the response he expected, “Fury!.”

“The ball is in his court,” Joshua said of his rival, with whom he engaged in failed negotiations late last year. “I would be 100 percent honored to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. … If you’re listening, you know my management, you know my promoter.

“We’ve had dialogue before. Let’s continue this and hopefully we can get this sorted out sooner rather than later. We’re not getting any younger.”

Said his promoter, Eddie Hearn: “We’re willing to entertain those conversations now, to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer. You got Dillian Whyte down there [in the arena]. You got Deontay Wilder. You got a lot of good fighters.

“I think he’s going to improve under Derrick James. There was a lot of pressure [on Saturday] and a lot of improvements to make. At the same time, he’s going to want the big fights as well.”

Only one thing is certain, according to Joshua: He’ll be back in the ring this summer. We’ll see who’s standing across from him.

Tyson Fury: Five fights that have defined the heavyweight king

Tyson Fury: Five fights that have defined the heavyweight king.

Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article that was originally published in 2020.

Tyson Fury has proved again and again over the past several years that he’s the No. 1 heavyweight of his era.

“The Gyspy King’s” dominating run began with his shockingly easy decision over long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, was interrupted while Fury spent 2½ years battling his demons and then culminated with a series of dominating performances that left no doubt about the two-time titleholder’s preeminence.

And Fury isn’t finished. He is scheduled to defend his title in a third fight with Derek Chisora on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (ESPN+), a precursor to more big fights next year.

Here are five fights that helped define the 34-year-old Fury so far:

 

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

Date / site: Nov. 28, 2015 / Espirit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany
Records: Fury 24-0; Klitschko 64-3
At stake: Klitschko’s three world titles
Result: UD (115-112, 116-111, 115-112)
Background: Klitschko was in the midst of one of the great championship runs in history when he met Fury. The Ukrainian made 18 successful defenses in the second of his two heavyweight reigns, second only to Joe Louis’ 23. And he was champion for more than nine years, again second only to Louis’ 11-plus. He hadn’t lost since Lamon Brewster stopped him in 2004. And Klitschko was around a 4-1 favorite, which are wide odds in boxing. All of that is why it was difficult to imagine Klitschko losing, even at 39 years old. And it’s why it was stunning to watch as the fight unfolded. The skillful, fleet and long Fury outboxed the champion from the beginning, using feints and movement to baffle the smaller man and consistently beat him to the punch. It wasn’t exciting to watch but it was brilliant. Fury, 27, was heavyweight champion. “This is a dream come true.  We worked so hard for this. I’ve done it.” The joy wouldn’t last long.

 

DEONTAY WILDER I

Date / site: Dec. 1, 2018 / Staples Center, Los Angeles
Records: Fury 27-0; Wilder 40-0
At stake: Wilder’s world title
Result: SD Draw (113-113, 115-111, 112-114)
Background: Fury didn’t fight for 2½ years after his victory over Klitschko as he battled his formidable personal demons, including depression. He twice pulled out of a rematch with Klitschko, tested positive for a banned substance, was later suspended and gave up his belts as he worked to get his life together. Plus, he had ballooned to more than 350 pounds. It wasn’t clear whether he’d ever fight again. Then, in one of the sport’s more remarkable comebacks, he learned to cope with his problems, got back into the gym, shed most of the excess weight and got back to fighting. He won two tune-up fights in 2018 and then agreed to meet Wilder, who had 39 KOs in his 40 fights. Did Fury still have it? Indeed he did. He outboxed a limited boxer and would’ve won had he not gone down in Rounds 9 and 12. He proved two things, though. He was back. And he was more resilient than anyone realized. The fact he got up from the second knockdown was remarkable. And he was just getting started.

 

DEONTAY WILDER II

Date / site: Feb. 22, 2020 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Fury 29-0-1; Wilder 42-0-1
At stake: Wilder’s world title
Result: TKO 7
Background: Fury, disgusted with what he believed was a robbery in the first fight, was determined to prove something of which he was certain: He was the better man. He parted ways with trainer Ben Davison and hired SugarHill Steward, a disciple of uncle Emanuel Steward who Fury believed would help him fight effectively in a more aggression fashion. Fury gained weight (273 pounds at the weigh-in) and a puncher’s mentality. He even suggested he’d stop Wilder. And then he did it. Fury was in his nemesis’ face from the opening bell, never allowing Wilder the time or distance to unload his vaunted right hand. Wilder went down from a right in Round 3. He hit the canvas again from a body shot in Round 5. And, badly beaten, a barrage of unanswered punches with Wilder’s back against the ropes prompted the referee to stop the fight at 1:39 of Round 7. Fury had made it all the way back. He was the heavyweight king.

 

DEONTAY WILDER III

Date / site: Oct. 9, 2021 / T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Records: Fury 30-0-1; Wilder 42-1-1
At stake: Fury’s world title
Result: KO 11
Background: Any notion that Fury would dominate Wilder as he did in their second fight went by the wayside in the fourth round of the 2021 Fight of the Year. That’s when a determined Wilder, one of the hardest punchers in history, put Fury down two times in a hair-raising stanza to raise the possibility of a significant upset. Instead, Fury used the harrowing moment to underscore the fact that he’s as resilient as he is talented. He survived the round and then went back to work, methodically breaking Wilder down over the next six-plus rounds. The ending was brutal. Fury put Wilder down in Round 10 but that was only a prelude for what was to come. In Round 11, the champion landed a series of heavy blows to the head of his weakened foe and then connected on the coup de grace, a right to the head that put a beaten Wilder flat on his face. The referee didn’t bother to count. Wilder was done. Fury once again demonstrated that he was better than his arch rival.

 

DILLIAN WHYTE

Date / site: April 23, 2022 / Wembley Stadium, London
Records: Fury 31-0-1; Whyte 28-2
At stake: Fury’s world title
Result: TKO 6
Background: Fury’s most-recent victory was more of a coronation than a significant challenge. He hadn’t fought in the U.K. since August 2018, when he outpointed Francesco Pianeta in Belfast, Northern Ireland. And his countrymen obviously were excited about his return. A European-record 94,000 packed Wembley Stadium to watch their bigger-than-life champion take on the well-known Whyte, a Londoner. And Fury certainly didn’t disappoint anyone, putting on an unforgettable show. He dominated Whyte for five-plus rounds and then delivered arguably the most-emphatic stoppage of his remarkable career, ending the fight in an instant with a mammoth right uppercut in Round 6. It wasn’t Fury’s most important victory given Whyte’s limitations but it would be difficult to surpass the drama of a brutal knockout before a record crowd in a long-awaited homecoming fight. It was a hell of a night for Fury and boxing.

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Tyson Fury: Five fights that have defined the heavyweight king

Tyson Fury: Five fights that have defined the heavyweight king.

Editor’s note: This is an updated version of an article that was originally published in 2020.

Tyson Fury has proved again and again over the past several years that he’s the No. 1 heavyweight of his era.

“The Gyspy King’s” dominating run began with his shockingly easy decision over long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, was interrupted while Fury spent 2½ years battling his demons and then culminated with a series of dominating performances that left no doubt about the two-time titleholder’s preeminence.

And Fury isn’t finished. He is scheduled to defend his title in a third fight with Derek Chisora on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London (ESPN+), a precursor to more big fights next year.

Here are five fights that helped define the 34-year-old Fury so far:

 

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO

Date / site: Nov. 28, 2015 / Espirit Arena, Dusseldorf, Germany
Records: Fury 24-0; Klitschko 64-3
At stake: Klitschko’s three world titles
Result: UD (115-112, 116-111, 115-112)
Background: Klitschko was in the midst of one of the great championship runs in history when he met Fury. The Ukrainian made 18 successful defenses in the second of his two heavyweight reigns, second only to Joe Louis’ 23. And he was champion for more than nine years, again second only to Louis’ 11-plus. He hadn’t lost since Lamon Brewster stopped him in 2004. And Klitschko was around a 4-1 favorite, which are wide odds in boxing. All of that is why it was difficult to imagine Klitschko losing, even at 39 years old. And it’s why it was stunning to watch as the fight unfolded. The skillful, fleet and long Fury outboxed the champion from the beginning, using feints and movement to baffle the smaller man and consistently beat him to the punch. It wasn’t exciting to watch but it was brilliant. Fury, 27, was heavyweight champion. “This is a dream come true.  We worked so hard for this. I’ve done it.” The joy wouldn’t last long.

 

DEONTAY WILDER I

Date / site: Dec. 1, 2018 / Staples Center, Los Angeles
Records: Fury 27-0; Wilder 40-0
At stake: Wilder’s world title
Result: SD Draw (113-113, 115-111, 112-114)
Background: Fury didn’t fight for 2½ years after his victory over Klitschko as he battled his formidable personal demons, including depression. He twice pulled out of a rematch with Klitschko, tested positive for a banned substance, was later suspended and gave up his belts as he worked to get his life together. Plus, he had ballooned to more than 350 pounds. It wasn’t clear whether he’d ever fight again. Then, in one of the sport’s more remarkable comebacks, he learned to cope with his problems, got back into the gym, shed most of the excess weight and got back to fighting. He won two tune-up fights in 2018 and then agreed to meet Wilder, who had 39 KOs in his 40 fights. Did Fury still have it? Indeed he did. He outboxed a limited boxer and would’ve won had he not gone down in Rounds 9 and 12. He proved two things, though. He was back. And he was more resilient than anyone realized. The fact he got up from the second knockdown was remarkable. And he was just getting started.

 

DEONTAY WILDER II

Date / site: Feb. 22, 2020 / MGM Grand, Las Vegas
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Fury 29-0-1; Wilder 42-0-1
At stake: Wilder’s world title
Result: TKO 7
Background: Fury, disgusted with what he believed was a robbery in the first fight, was determined to prove something of which he was certain: He was the better man. He parted ways with trainer Ben Davison and hired SugarHill Steward, a disciple of uncle Emanuel Steward who Fury believed would help him fight effectively in a more aggression fashion. Fury gained weight (273 pounds at the weigh-in) and a puncher’s mentality. He even suggested he’d stop Wilder. And then he did it. Fury was in his nemesis’ face from the opening bell, never allowing Wilder the time or distance to unload his vaunted right hand. Wilder went down from a right in Round 3. He hit the canvas again from a body shot in Round 5. And, badly beaten, a barrage of unanswered punches with Wilder’s back against the ropes prompted the referee to stop the fight at 1:39 of Round 7. Fury had made it all the way back. He was the heavyweight king.

 

DEONTAY WILDER III

Date / site: Oct. 9, 2021 / T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Records: Fury 30-0-1; Wilder 42-1-1
At stake: Fury’s world title
Result: KO 11
Background: Any notion that Fury would dominate Wilder as he did in their second fight went by the wayside in the fourth round of the 2021 Fight of the Year. That’s when a determined Wilder, one of the hardest punchers in history, put Fury down two times in a hair-raising stanza to raise the possibility of a significant upset. Instead, Fury used the harrowing moment to underscore the fact that he’s as resilient as he is talented. He survived the round and then went back to work, methodically breaking Wilder down over the next six-plus rounds. The ending was brutal. Fury put Wilder down in Round 10 but that was only a prelude for what was to come. In Round 11, the champion landed a series of heavy blows to the head of his weakened foe and then connected on the coup de grace, a right to the head that put a beaten Wilder flat on his face. The referee didn’t bother to count. Wilder was done. Fury once again demonstrated that he was better than his arch rival.

 

DILLIAN WHYTE

Date / site: April 23, 2022 / Wembley Stadium, London
Records: Fury 31-0-1; Whyte 28-2
At stake: Fury’s world title
Result: TKO 6
Background: Fury’s most-recent victory was more of a coronation than a significant challenge. He hadn’t fought in the U.K. since August 2018, when he outpointed Francesco Pianeta in Belfast, Northern Ireland. And his countrymen obviously were excited about his return. A European-record 94,000 packed Wembley Stadium to watch their bigger-than-life champion take on the well-known Whyte, a Londoner. And Fury certainly didn’t disappoint anyone, putting on an unforgettable show. He dominated Whyte for five-plus rounds and then delivered arguably the most-emphatic stoppage of his remarkable career, ending the fight in an instant with a mammoth right uppercut in Round 6. It wasn’t Fury’s most important victory given Whyte’s limitations but it would be difficult to surpass the drama of a brutal knockout before a record crowd in a long-awaited homecoming fight. It was a hell of a night for Fury and boxing.

[lawrence-related id=29652,24656]

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivers special performance against Jose Zepeda

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivered a special performance against Jose Zepeda on Saturday in Carson, California.

Editor’s note: This new feature – Weekend Review – replaces the discontinued Good, Bad, Worse. The premise is the same: A look back at the past week of boxing.

 

BIGGEST WINNER

Regis Prograis – Prograis had been a forgotten man since he lost his junior welterweight title to Josh Taylor in October 2019 because he fought only once a year after that and never on a big stage. On Saturday, he reminded us what we were missing. The 33-year-old from New Orleans gave a dazzling performance in Carson, California, stopping overmatched Jose Zepeda in 11 rounds to become a two-time 140-pound champion. Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) gave a boxing clinic, which left a good fighter in Zepeda looking lost most of the fight. The loser landed only six-plus punches per round, according to CompuBox. And then Prograis finished the job in style, scoring a brutal knockout 59 seconds into Round 11. He left no doubt that he’s a threat to anyone at 140 pounds – including his conqueror, Josh Taylor – and could compete with the elite 147-pounders eventually. It was a special night for him.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Jose Zepeda – Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) had a bad night. He had two previous losses in his career but was never dominated like he was by Prograis, who seemed to expose Zepeda’s limitations in the latter’s third failed attempt to win a major world title. The 33-year-old from the Los Angeles area never gave himself a chance to win. He should’ve gotten nasty with Prograis after it became clear he couldn’t box with a superior boxer but didn’t, although that’s easy for me to say because I’m not taking one hard punch after another from one of the best in the business. Bottom line: Zepeda was in over his head. Does he still have a realistic chance of winning a belt? That would depend on the opponent. I don’t see him beating someone at the level of Prograis or Taylor. And, of course, how many more opportunities is he going to get?

 

MOST FORTUNATE

Dillian Whyte – The longtime heavyweight contender eked out a majority decision over relative unknown Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 1 KOs) on Saturday in London, a fight that some believe Franklin did enough to win. Had Whyte lost, he would’ve fallen in back-to-back fights (he was stopped by Tyson Fury in his previous outing) and been 2-3 in his last five. The 35-year-old Londoner would’ve been hard-pressed to bounce back from that. As it was, Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had his hand raised. And now he seems to be on track to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch next year. If he can find a way to win that fight, people will have forgotten his cold streak and he’ll be back in legitimate title contention.

 

BEST PROSPECT

Bakhodir Jalolov – The 6-foot-7 Uzbek seems to have all the ingredients necessary to become a heavyweight champion, which was evident once again during his fourth-round knockout of Curtis Harper on the Prograis-Zepeda card. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist has a vast amateur background, which gives him an outstanding fundamental foundation. He can box. And 12 knockouts in as many pro fights supports the notion that he can crack. One question mark is his chin. We’ll see what happens when he’s caught by another big puncher. As it stands, the Brooklyn-based Jalolov is on a short list of rising big men who could one day soon dominate the division. Among the others: Joe Joyce, Jared Anderson and Frank Sanchez. Stay tuned.

 

BIGGEST LETDOWN

John Ryder vs. Zach Parker – The British super middleweight contenders were engaged in a compelling fight when, after four rounds, the previously unbeaten Parker (22-1, 16 KOs) quit because of an injured (broken?) right hand Saturday in London. Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) was baffled initially but then celebrated, which makes sense: He’s now the mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez’s WBO title. For Parker, there was nothing to celebrate. He had his own dreams of challenging Alvarez but will now have to take time off to heal and then begin the rebuilding process. And some observers undoubtedly wonder whether Parker should’ve tried to continue, which is harsh judgment because we don’t know the extent of the injury. Nevertheless, the unfortunate ending contributed to a disappointing night for a good boxer.

 

GUTSIEST PERFORMANCE

Yokasta Valle – The strawweight titleholder from Costa Rican moved up in weight to challenge junior flyweight titleholder Evelin Bermudez on the Prograis-Zepeda card, leaving her at what seemed to be at a physical disadvantage. That didn’t deter her. She used a combination of ability, hustle and sheer guts to outwork her Argentine opponent and win a majority decision, become a three-division champion and make it clear that she’s one of the best female fighters pound for pound. Valle (27-2, 9 KOs) is a former atomweight champ. The prideful Bermudez (17-1-1, 6 KOs) has nothing to be ashamed of. She gave a good effort. And she’s only 26. She’ll be back.

 

BEST BOXING FAMILY.

The Vargases – Former junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas has produced a brood of promising boxers. His three sons – Fernando Jr., Emiliano and Amado – have a combined record of 14-0 (11 KOs) in their young careers after Junior and Amado won their fights on the Prograis-Zepeda card. Of course, it’s early. The second-generation Vargases, who are trained by their famous father, are just started out. However, having been around boxing their entire lives, they have a good feel for the sport and have inherited dad’s fighting spirit. I won’t be surprised if one or more of them succeeds long term.

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Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivers special performance against Jose Zepeda

Weekend Review: Regis Prograis delivered a special performance against Jose Zepeda on Saturday in Carson, California.

Editor’s note: This new feature – Weekend Review – replaces the discontinued Good, Bad, Worse. The premise is the same: A look back at the past week of boxing.

 

BIGGEST WINNER

Regis Prograis – Prograis had been a forgotten man since he lost his junior welterweight title to Josh Taylor in October 2019 because he fought only once a year after that and never on a big stage. On Saturday, he reminded us what we were missing. The 33-year-old from New Orleans gave a dazzling performance in Carson, California, stopping overmatched Jose Zepeda in 11 rounds to become a two-time 140-pound champion. Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) gave a boxing clinic, which left a good fighter in Zepeda looking lost most of the fight. The loser landed only six-plus punches per round, according to CompuBox. And then Prograis finished the job in style, scoring a brutal knockout 59 seconds into Round 11. He left no doubt that he’s a threat to anyone at 140 pounds – including his conqueror, Josh Taylor – and could compete with the elite 147-pounders eventually. It was a special night for him.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Jose Zepeda – Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) had a bad night. He had two previous losses in his career but was never dominated like he was by Prograis, who seemed to expose Zepeda’s limitations in the latter’s third failed attempt to win a major world title. The 33-year-old from the Los Angeles area never gave himself a chance to win. He should’ve gotten nasty with Prograis after it became clear he couldn’t box with a superior boxer but didn’t, although that’s easy for me to say because I’m not taking one hard punch after another from one of the best in the business. Bottom line: Zepeda was in over his head. Does he still have a realistic chance of winning a belt? That would depend on the opponent. I don’t see him beating someone at the level of Prograis or Taylor. And, of course, how many more opportunities is he going to get?

 

MOST FORTUNATE

Dillian Whyte – The longtime heavyweight contender eked out a majority decision over relative unknown Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 1 KOs) on Saturday in London, a fight that some believe Franklin did enough to win. Had Whyte lost, he would’ve fallen in back-to-back fights (he was stopped by Tyson Fury in his previous outing) and been 2-3 in his last five. The 35-year-old Londoner would’ve been hard-pressed to bounce back from that. As it was, Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had his hand raised. And now he seems to be on track to face Anthony Joshua in a rematch next year. If he can find a way to win that fight, people will have forgotten his cold streak and he’ll be back in legitimate title contention.

 

BEST PROSPECT

Bakhodir Jalolov – The 6-foot-7 Uzbek seems to have all the ingredients necessary to become a heavyweight champion, which was evident once again during his fourth-round knockout of Curtis Harper on the Prograis-Zepeda card. The 2020 Olympic gold medalist has a vast amateur background, which gives him an outstanding fundamental foundation. He can box. And 12 knockouts in as many pro fights supports the notion that he can crack. One question mark is his chin. We’ll see what happens when he’s caught by another big puncher. As it stands, the Brooklyn-based Jalolov is on a short list of rising big men who could one day soon dominate the division. Among the others: Joe Joyce, Jared Anderson and Frank Sanchez. Stay tuned.

 

BIGGEST LETDOWN

John Ryder vs. Zach Parker – The British super middleweight contenders were engaged in a compelling fight when, after four rounds, the previously unbeaten Parker (22-1, 16 KOs) quit because of an injured (broken?) right hand Saturday in London. Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) was baffled initially but then celebrated, which makes sense: He’s now the mandatory challenger to Canelo Alvarez’s WBO title. For Parker, there was nothing to celebrate. He had his own dreams of challenging Alvarez but will now have to take time off to heal and then begin the rebuilding process. And some observers undoubtedly wonder whether Parker should’ve tried to continue, which is harsh judgment because we don’t know the extent of the injury. Nevertheless, the unfortunate ending contributed to a disappointing night for a good boxer.

 

GUTSIEST PERFORMANCE

Yokasta Valle – The strawweight titleholder from Costa Rican moved up in weight to challenge junior flyweight titleholder Evelin Bermudez on the Prograis-Zepeda card, leaving her at what seemed to be at a physical disadvantage. That didn’t deter her. She used a combination of ability, hustle and sheer guts to outwork her Argentine opponent and win a majority decision, become a three-division champion and make it clear that she’s one of the best female fighters pound for pound. Valle (27-2, 9 KOs) is a former atomweight champ. The prideful Bermudez (17-1-1, 6 KOs) has nothing to be ashamed of. She gave a good effort. And she’s only 26. She’ll be back.

 

BEST BOXING FAMILY.

The Vargases – Former junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas has produced a brood of promising boxers. His three sons – Fernando Jr., Emiliano and Amado – have a combined record of 14-0 (11 KOs) in their young careers after Junior and Amado won their fights on the Prograis-Zepeda card. Of course, it’s early. The second-generation Vargases, who are trained by their famous father, are just started out. However, having been around boxing their entire lives, they have a good feel for the sport and have inherited dad’s fighting spirit. I won’t be surprised if one or more of them succeeds long term.

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Dillian Whyte survives scare against Jermaine Franklin, eyes Anthony Joshua

Dillian Whyte on Saturday survived a test against Jermaine Franklin that sets up a possible rematch with Anthony Joshua.

It wasn’t convincing, but Dillian Whyte got the job done.

The longtime heavyweight contender defeated relative unknown, but determined American Jermaine Franklin by a majority decision in a competitive fight Saturday at OVO Arena in London.

The victory could set up a rematch with Anthony Joshua, who was at ringside and reportedly has been receptive to Whyte’s wish to fight him next year.

Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had lost two of his previous three fights, including a sixth-round knockout against titleholder Tyson Fury in April.

Still, Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) wasn’t given much of a chance against a veteran of so many big-time events. Then the fight started.

Neither man was able to gain a clear advantage in a grueling, back-and-forth fight, although two judges evidently were convinced that Whyte had outworked his stubborn opponent.

The 35-year-old Londoner won 116-112 — eight rounds to four — on two scorecards. The third judge scored it 115-115.

Some believe that the cards favoring Whyte were too wide, including Franklin, who thought he deserved the victory.

“I felt like I got robbed, I felt like I did enough to get the decision,” he said, according to The Mirror. “I felt like I won the earlier rounds. I just felt like I got robbed on the decision.”

Nevertheless, it’s Whyte who had his hand raised and took a step toward a bigger fight.

Whyte was stopped by Joshua in seven rounds back in 2015, before Joshua became a world titleholder. He would like to avenge that setback. More important, a victory over Joshua would make him a candidate to fight for a title one more time.

Dillian Whyte survives scare against Jermaine Franklin, eyes Anthony Joshua

Dillian Whyte on Saturday survived a test against Jermaine Franklin that sets up a possible rematch with Anthony Joshua.

It wasn’t convincing, but Dillian Whyte got the job done.

The longtime heavyweight contender defeated relative unknown, but determined American Jermaine Franklin by a majority decision in a competitive fight Saturday at OVO Arena in London.

The victory could set up a rematch with Anthony Joshua, who was at ringside and reportedly has been receptive to Whyte’s wish to fight him next year.

Whyte (29-3, 19 KOs) had lost two of his previous three fights, including a sixth-round knockout against titleholder Tyson Fury in April.

Still, Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) wasn’t given much of a chance against a veteran of so many big-time events. Then the fight started.

Neither man was able to gain a clear advantage in a grueling, back-and-forth fight, although two judges evidently were convinced that Whyte had outworked his stubborn opponent.

The 35-year-old Londoner won 116-112 — eight rounds to four — on two scorecards. The third judge scored it 115-115.

Some believe that the cards favoring Whyte were too wide, including Franklin, who thought he deserved the victory.

“I felt like I got robbed, I felt like I did enough to get the decision,” he said, according to The Mirror. “I felt like I won the earlier rounds. I just felt like I got robbed on the decision.”

Nevertheless, it’s Whyte who had his hand raised and took a step toward a bigger fight.

Whyte was stopped by Joshua in seven rounds back in 2015, before Joshua became a world titleholder. He would like to avenge that setback. More important, a victory over Joshua would make him a candidate to fight for a title one more time.

Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin: date, time, how to watch, background

Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin: date, time, how to watch, background.

Longtime heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte returns to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.

DILLIAN WHYTE (28-3, 19 KOs) vs. JERMAINE FRANKLIN (21-0, 14 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (7 p.m. GMT) (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: DAZN is $19.99 per month or $149.99 annually
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • Weights: Whyte 238 pounds, Franklin 252
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Whyte 9½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Fabio Wardley vs. Nathan Gorman, heavyweights; Craig Richards vs. Ricards Bolotniks, light heavyweights; Sandy Ryan vs. Magali Rodriguez, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Whyte KO 7
  • Background: Whyte, a 35-year-old perennial contender, begins another comeback against an unbeaten, but unproven American. The Londoner is coming off a sixth-round knockout loss to titleholder Tyson Fury this past April, his first shot at a major belt. That followed back-to-back fights against Alexander Povetkin, who stunned the boxing world by stopping Whyte with one punch in the fifth round in August 2020 and was stopped himself in the fourth round of the rematch the following March. Whyte has said he’d like to fight Anthony Joshua a second time if he can get past Franklin. Joshua handed Whyte his first loss, a seventh-round knockout in 2015. Franklin, a 29-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, has passed every test in his career but has not faced a fighter of Whyte’s stature. He last fought in May, when he stopped journeyman Rodney Moore in five rounds. This will be Franklin’s first fight outside the United States. He might have a chance to fight Joshua if he has his hand raised Saturday.

Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin: date, time, how to watch, background

Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin: date, time, how to watch, background.

Longtime heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte returns to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday in London.

DILLIAN WHYTE (28-3, 19 KOs) vs. JERMAINE FRANKLIN (21-0, 14 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
  • Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (7 p.m. GMT) (main event later in show)
  • Where: OVO Arena, London
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: DAZN is $19.99 per month or $149.99 annually
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit)
  • Weights: Whyte 238 pounds, Franklin 252
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Whyte 9½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Fabio Wardley vs. Nathan Gorman, heavyweights; Craig Richards vs. Ricards Bolotniks, light heavyweights; Sandy Ryan vs. Magali Rodriguez, junior welterweights
  • Prediction: Whyte KO 7
  • Background: Whyte, a 35-year-old perennial contender, begins another comeback against an unbeaten, but unproven American. The Londoner is coming off a sixth-round knockout loss to titleholder Tyson Fury this past April, his first shot at a major belt. That followed back-to-back fights against Alexander Povetkin, who stunned the boxing world by stopping Whyte with one punch in the fifth round in August 2020 and was stopped himself in the fourth round of the rematch the following March. Whyte has said he’d like to fight Anthony Joshua a second time if he can get past Franklin. Joshua handed Whyte his first loss, a seventh-round knockout in 2015. Franklin, a 29-year-old from Saginaw, Michigan, has passed every test in his career but has not faced a fighter of Whyte’s stature. He last fought in May, when he stopped journeyman Rodney Moore in five rounds. This will be Franklin’s first fight outside the United States. He might have a chance to fight Joshua if he has his hand raised Saturday.