Tris Dixon: Joshua says the pressure is off but it really isn’t. It’s make or break and worse than that, if he doesn’t look brilliant he will be heavily criticised as he’s such a huge favourite. An impressive AJ win would be good for the division, so we can still endlessly speculate about these future fights with Wilder and Fury, and it would be interesting to see what changes have been made under Derrick James. I think Joshua will make a steady start and try to implement some of his new teachings. Invariably, Joshua will trade at some point, and by the sixth or seventh I think Franklin would have had enough. But I don’t want to completely discount the American. He was in better shape for the fight announcement weeks ago than he was for Dillian Whyte and he gave Whyte all he could handle.
Lucas Ketelle: It seems like the camp from hell for Jermaine Franklin who seems to have some stuff outside the ring taking center stage prior to the bout. Never been a believer in Anthony Joshua, but I do believe in big business. The show continues - Joshua wins.
Kieran Mulvaney: Anthony Joshua has said if he loses, he'll retire, and honestly he wouldn't have much other option. A few years ago, Franklin was touting himself as the most talented young American boxer, but a string of disappointing performances suggested he was far from that. A couple of years ago, this would have been a mismatch, and a highly derided one at that. But then Franklin put in a determined, if losing, effort, against Dillian Whyte; and Joshua melted down after losing to Usyk. Franklin seems to have found his mojo, but has AJ lost his? The smart move for Franklin would be to jump on Joshua early and test his confidence and resolve, which could lead to an early firefight. That might not be what Joshua wants, but although he may get wobbled, it'll work to his advantage, as he ends up knocking Franklin down and out in six in a performance that leaves as many questions as answers.
Ben Blackwell: I don’t think there is any question regarding the ability of Joshua, I believe it is a question of mindset. Personally, I feel Joshua needs to make an impressive statement considering the pressure on his shoulders regarding his return. How will Joshua react under pressure? What happens if he is wobbled? Franklin, despite coming off a defeat to Whyte in which I feel he did just enough to win, is on a free hit. There is almost no expectation on the shoulders of Franklin. I feel Joshua will start at a moderate and comfortable pace before working through the gears before aiming to get Franklin out of there. It will be key for Joshua to demonstrate what he has been taught by Derrick James or otherwise, Joshua will be criticized. Franklin can make life very difficult. Just ask Dillian Whyte. Ultimately Joshua should be aiming for an early night around the mid-rounds, just in his favour and not in favour of Franklin.
Declan Warrington: I consider Joshua such a heavy favourite that the most interesting things in play will be attempting to detect what Derrick James may have instilled in him and whether, after successive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk, he has the confidence to demonstrate them. As passive as he was the first time around against Usyk, he was impressive in their rematch, and to the extent that only a fighter of the calibre of Usyk would have been capable of beating him. Franklin can impress when he lets his hands go but he doesn’t have anything like Usyk’s mobility, so I can’t see Joshua needing beyond six-to-eight rounds to break him down.
Adam Noble-Forcey: It all boils down to whether Joshua still wants to compete. I think he does, the effort into every area of his business suggests so. Hopefully he has managed to block out the negativity on social media and the news, it has certainly affected him in the past. Jermaine Franklin is a reasonably live opponent, but picked specifically by new trainer Derrick James. Everyone has done their homework in this one, I don’t see any problems for Joshua tonight. Franklin could go earlier than expected, early to mid round stoppage for AJ.
