I’d be smiling too if a career-high payday might be in front of me, as Jermaine Franklin, who is promoted by Dmitriy Salita, appears to be the front-runner to the former two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.
"Yes, Jermaine is excited about the opportunity to once again show the British boxing fans that he is the best American heavyweight in the world. As you saw in the Whyte fight, Jermaine is not intimidated by a big name even if it's thousands of miles away from home," Dmitry Salita, Franklin’s promoter told Sky Sports in a recent interview. "His mindset is to be the heavyweight champion of the world. Beat Joshua, beat Whyte in the rematch and fight the winner of Fury vs Usyk.”
Last November, Franklin lost a majority decision to Dillian Whyte, one in which it killed all credibility of Dillian Whyte still being a world-class fight, and seemingly announced the birth of new contender in Franklin. Joshua is expected to return on April 1st in the United Kingdom, and whispers of Franklin’s name are now turning into shouts.
Salita has another heavyweight Otto Wallin, who was robbed of a chance of fighting Dillian Whyte, when Whyte pulled out of their bout, and later took a fight with Tyson Fury.
"I think that Otto's fight with (Tyson) Fury and his subsequent victories after that show that he is one of the best heavyweights in the world," furthered Salita. "There is a lot of risk associated with this fight for Joshua. I believe the fight with [Wallin and] Whyte that was supposed to happen can happen now. Otto will get his opportunity in the near future. He is still improving and is a real threat. He is coming for that heavyweight world title."
