Jermaine Franklin rejects Anthony Joshua retirement suggestions
Jermaine Franklin has baulked at the idea that Anthony Joshua should walk away from boxing if he loses their fight this weekend.
Jermaine Franklin has rubbished the idea that Anthony Joshua should retire if he loses their fight.
The American takes on Joshua this Saturday (01.04.23) as he looks to inflict a third straight loss on the former world champion and feels that suggestions that the Brit should quit if he loses are disrespectful towards his ability.
He said: "A lot of people are painting the picture that if AJ loses this might be the end of his career and if I win this might project my career.
"I don’t buy that if I beat him he has to retire because if I say that it means I’m a bum. The world is saying that basically if AJ loses to a guy like me then he’s done but I don’t feel like that’s true. AJ can still beat a lot of guys, I just feel confident enough that I can win. I feel like the world is still sleeping on me."
Franklin is the underdog for the bout at London's O2 Arena but has no issue with being written off by observers.
The fighter said: "It doesn’t offend me. I need people to understand this, throughout my whole career I’ve always been put on the backburner, always been the underdog and always been looked at as the guy, the journeyman who is going to lose at the top level.
"I’ve always been fighting odds my whole career. It doesn’t offend me or make me think, it just makes me want to work harder to prove people wrong and to prove I belong in this sport and I’m a top guy.
"While I’m in this position I’ll just keep performing and keep showing the world I am one of these top guys. I’m not a journeyman or a comeback fight, I’m a real challenge."
