‘I don’t think he looked good’: Dillian Whyte slams ‘apprehensive’ Anthony Joshua after his unconvincing win over Jermain Franklin and slams his lack of ‘aggression’ – as he claims he ‘went after’ the American when they fought last year
- Dillian Whyte has criticised Anthony Joshua after his win over Jermaine Franklin
- Hopeful next opponent Whyte believes Joshua has lost his ‘aggression’
- Whyte also expressed concern over Joshua’s caution to fire off big shots
Dillian Whyte has landed a verbal blow on Anthony Joshua after the former heavyweight king claimed his first win since losing his division crown by securing a unanimous points victory over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday evening.
Joshua admitted to Sportsmail after the fight that he was ‘not happy’ with his performance as he failed to knockout his lesser opponent but brazenly called out Tyson Fury having his hand raised.
AJ looked cautious of being caught by Franklin, knowing that defeat to the American could have spelt the end of his career, but managed the rounds effectively to clinch the win even if he looked short of his previous battling best.
A ringside Whyte who beat Franklin in his last outing taunted Joshua after 12 rounds and insisted his long-term rival has lost his ‘aggression’.
‘I don’t think he looked particularly good tonight,’ Whyte told DAZN.
Anthony Joshua (right) has been criticised for his performance in his latest win over Jermaine Franklin (left)
Dillian Whyte (right) questioned Joshua’s (left) performance and claimed the former heavyweight king has lost his ‘aggression’
‘He seems a bit apprehensive, the right hand is still there and the boxing skills are still there, but the aggression is not there.
‘The difference is in the last two rounds I went after Franklin, he didn’t. ‘I’ll always have a go, win, lose or draw, I’ll have a go,’ he added.
Joshua produced an improved performance under his new American coach Derrick James but frustrated viewers with his unwillingness to fire off his previously devastating right-hand and lacklustre efforts to land combinations.
Franklin’s chin was perhaps more impressive than his knockout qualities as he withstood Joshua’s biggest punches and continuously tried to wrap his blood-stained opponent up in the latter rounds.
The pair then had to be split apart after going the distance as both camps clashed and security was hauled into the ring to cool the ensuing chaos that had erupted.
Whyte and Joshua could be braced to go toe-to-toe in the ring for the second time in their professional career if a mega battle-of-Britain bout with Fury fails to materialise.
Joshua (left) previously knocked Whyte (right) out when the pair fought at the O2 Arena in 2015
Joshua (left) got the job done against Franklin as he claimed his first victory since losing his heavyweight title
Joshua displayed his star knockout qualities with a signature uppercut on Whyte when the pair previously fought in 2015.
But a renewed battle eight years later would likely be a different fight altogether with Whyte honing his craft in the years following defeat and Joshua currently struggling to rediscover the qualities that saw him become a two-time heavyweight world champion.
A possible matchup against fellow former champ Deontay Wilder would guarantee another huge headline fight, while Joe Joyce would represent a testing all-British encounter for Joshua.
Meanwhile, Carl Froch also criticised Joshua’s performance as he questioned the 33-year-old’s reasons for continuing in the sport.
