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Anthony Joshua Gets Back to Winning Ways with New Trainer Derrick James Anthony Joshua returned to the ring on Saturday night at O2 Arena in London, hoping to get back to winning ways after two consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk. In front of a packed crowd, the former heavyweight champion faced Jermaine Franklin and emerged victorious with a comfortable win. Although not the most spectacular performance of his career, Joshua was able to out-land Franklin throughout the 12 rounds. The judges unanimously gave him the win, with scores of 118-111, 117-111, and 117-111. This was Joshua's first fight since December 2020 when he knocked out Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round. Joshua had lost his previous two fights to Usyk, but with a new trainer, Derrick James, in his corner, he was able to regain his confidence and put on a convincing performance. Franklin, who lost to Dillian Whyte in his last fight, came into this bout 22 pounds lighter, but he failed to put up a competitive fight against Joshua. He lacked the power to hurt Joshua and needed a knockout to win by the time the final round came around. Joshua's uppercut in the final round sealed the victory and nearly caused a brawl as he tapped Franklin on the back of the head. However, they were separated before things got out of hand. Despite not being at his best, Joshua was happy with the win, especially after the previous losses. With a new trainer in his corner, he is optimistic about his future and eager to regain his place at the top of the heavyweight division. Anthony Joshua may not have been at his best on Saturday night, but he was able to comfortably win against Jermaine Franklin with a convincing performance. With a new trainer in his corner, Joshua is looking to bounce back and regain his place as one of the top heavyweight boxers in the world.

In a night of explosive finishes and hard-fought battles, Bellator 293 brought the MMA world to its feet with Daniel James' incredible uppercut knockout over Marcelo Golm and Cat Zingano's gritty victory over Leah McCourt. The Bellator 293 main event featured a clash between Marcelo Golm and Daniel James, both of whom had impressive four-fight winning streaks. The heavyweight division in mixed martial arts is known to be shallow, so the winner of this battle could potentially earn a shot at the Bellator heavyweight championship. In the end, James emerged victorious with a TKO in the third round after landing a series of heavy blows. During the fight, James caught Golm's kick and used it to take him down, but Golm was able to get back to his feet quickly. The rest of the round was spent in a clinch battle with both fighters trying to find grappling attacks along the cage. In Round 2, Golm started strong with heavy leg kicks and secured a takedown, but he was unable to finish the fight. In the third round, James came out aggressively and landed a big uppercut and hard right hand that put Golm on the canvas, leading to the TKO victory. James credited his coach with encouraging him to let his strikes go in the third round. This win is James' second in the Bellator cage and puts him one step closer to a shot at Ryan Bader and the Bellator heavyweight title. James wasted no time in calling out the champion after his win. While, Cat Zingano kept her top ranking in the featherweight division by winning a hard-fought battle against Leah McCourt in the co-main event. Zingano utilized her wrestling skills to counter McCourt's long-range striking in the early stages of the fight, but McCourt showed her grappling prowess by quickly getting back to her feet and grappling with Zingano against the fence. The first round ended with a close score, but Zingano landed a solid elbow that left McCourt with a bruised cheek. In the second round, McCourt caught a Zingano kick and took her to the mat, where she scored with heavy ground-and-pound. However, Zingano eventually reversed positions and took McCourt's back. The fight was up for grabs in the final round, which saw McCourt opening with a trip and Zingano reversing the position. McCourt managed to get back to her feet and score with a big throw, but Zingano landed a knee in the final moments that caused a cut on McCourt's face. After 15 minutes of intense back-and-forth action, Zingano emerged victorious with a unanimous decision, with scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 29-28. Despite a valiant effort from McCourt, Zingano's wrestling skills and striking ability proved to be the deciding factors in the fight. Overall, Bellator 293 was a night to remember, with two incredible performances from Daniel James and Cat Zingano. MMA fans around the world were treated to some of the best fights of the year, and the future looks bright for both James and Zingano as they continue their careers in the Bellator cage.

Joe Rogan is a well-known podcast presenter and UFC commentator who isn't afraid to get into hot water over a variety of issues. In his most recent divisive stance, the 55-year-old stated that hits to the back of a fighter's head should be authorized in MMA fights. Hits to the back of the head, sometimes known as 'rabbit punching,' are prohibited in all forms of combat sports due to the significant danger of injury as well as serious and irreversible damage to the brain stem and spinal system. Joe Rogan recently stated on The Joe Rogan Experience with UFC welterweight Jorge Masvidal (JRE MMA Show #137) that because certain dangerous moves were widespread in the early days of MMA, they should be permitted and accepted today as well. Bloody Elbow published a report that replicated Rogan's words suggesting that 'rabbit punching' should be permitted inside the octagon: "I don’t even know if we should stop hitting people in the back of the head. It doesn’t seem to make any sense to me. Because a lot of knockouts, like high kicks, they wrap around the back of the shoulder, and they go right to the back of your head, and it’s legal...It should be legal, I don't understand why it's not legal." Do you agree with Joe Rogan? Comment and Let us know.

The major attraction at Bellator 293 was undoubtedly English light heavyweight Luke Trainer. 'The Gent' topped off his night by proposing to his fiancée inside the cage after a stunning first-round submission win against the unbeaten Sullivan Cauley. An ecstatic Trainer went above and beyond by delivering a sweet-yet-NSFW line to blow his better half off her feet. She answered yes, and the two finished the touching moment with a kiss. During his post-fight interview with Big John McCarthy, his girlfriend was invited up to the cage, and the MMA fighter proposed, saying: "Baby girl, I love you so much, you are everything to me. I can’t wait to put babies inside of you. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" Luke Trainer is a 7-1 professional MMA fighter with a 4-1 record inside the Bellator cage. He is currently on a two-fight winning streak, with both victories coming by rear-naked choke submissions in the first round. The 27-year-old has previously competed in the Rise of Champions, Fightstar Championship, and Euro Fight Night promotions. He previously won the Euro Fight Night light heavyweight competition.

Luis Nunez Eyeing Future Clash with Brandon Figueroa Highly-ranked featherweight contender, Luis Nunez, has set his sights on a future showdown with newly crowned WBC featherweight interim champion, Brandon Figueroa. After a career-defining 2022 with three consecutive victories, Nunez believes his championship moment is forthcoming. Impressed by Figueroa's recent victory over Mark Magsayo, Nunez tipped his cap to the former titlist's work rate and pressure tactics. Despite Figueroa's belief that he was given the short end of the stick in his 2021 fight against Stephen Fulton, he is attempting to adjust to life with a target on his back. Looking ahead, Nunez is convinced that a matchup between himself and Figueroa will come to fruition sooner rather than later. However, he first needs to focus on his upcoming fight against Christian Olivo on April 8th, as part of a Showtime televised opener at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. As Nunez continues to lay the groundwork for his title aspirations, he is hopeful that his future will include a clash with Figueroa. For now, both fighters will need to stay focused on their upcoming bouts, but a potential showdown between them could be on the horizon.

Former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia will not be facing off against WBA 175-pound champion Dmitry Bivol anytime soon, according to Munguia's promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer. Instead, Beltran is working to secure a fight between Munguia and former middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin on June 10th. Last week, promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom revealed that he was exploring a possible fight between Munguia and Bivol at 175 pounds, but Beltran quickly shut down that possibility, stating that Munguia already had a date with DAZN for June 10th. "It was our side who looked for Bivol, but we couldn't make a deal," Beltran told Izquierdazo. "Unfortunately, Bivol is not very popular. He has been effective in the ring, but he is not very popular. We would love to fight with him in the future, but we are talking about the two weight classes above (Munguia's division). We would fight with him (Bivol) if nobody else wants to. If someone runs away from him (Bivol), we will face him." Beltran expressed his hope that a deal could be reached to get Golovkin into the ring for the June date, stating that there have been actual discussions about the fight. "Yes, we have been talking to Tom Loeffler (GGG's promoter)," Beltran said. "The truth is that there have been actual discussions, and we want to close it soon. We would love to fight Golovkin. We have looked for that fight for a long time, since the beginning of Jaime's career, and we couldn't make it. But we are trying again." Golovkin vs. Munguia had been scheduled to take place in 2018, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission rejected the contest, citing Munguia's lack of experience. It remains to be seen whether a fight between Munguia and Golovkin will come to fruition this time around, but the possibility is certainly an exciting one for boxing fans. Munguia has been making a name for himself in the sport, and a win over a veteran like Golovkin could propel him even further into the spotlight. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.

Gervonta Davis Prepares to Face Ryan Garcia, Trainer Calvin Ford Believes Best is Yet to Come Gervonta Davis has established himself as one of the most exciting fighters in boxing with his explosive knockouts and star power. His trainer, Calvin Ford, has been with him from the beginning and has seen him evolve into the fighter he is today. However, Ford believes that Davis is far from reaching his potential. “Nowhere close yet,” said Ford to YSM Sports Media when asked if Davis is at his best. Davis, with a record of 28-0 and 26 knockouts, is preparing for his next fight against Ryan Garcia on April 22nd at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia has been targeting Davis for a while and the two have finally signed a deal to face off in the ring. Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) made certain concessions to get the fight over the finish line, including a 136-pound catchweight and a next-day rehydration clause of 10 pounds. However, Team Davis is not paying much attention to Garcia's complaints and is focused on getting Davis ready for the fight. With Davis being a sizable favorite, Ford is putting him through another arduous training camp. As Davis trains and works on his skills, Ford is amazed at the fighter he has become. While Davis appears to be nearing his prime, Ford believes that he still has room for improvement. Davis has been a force in the ring since he turned pro over a decade ago, but Ford insists that he still has untapped potential. “His ceiling is where he wants it to be,” said Ford. Davis vs. Garcia is expected to be an explosive fight between two of the best young fighters in the sport. While Garcia will be looking to make a name for himself by taking down one of the biggest stars in boxing, Davis will be looking to continue his impressive run of knockouts and cement his place as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Bellator MMA has announced another exciting matchup for their upcoming event, Bellator 297. Former UFC light heavyweight contender Corey Anderson is set to take on Phil Davis in what promises to be an electrifying fight between two of the best in the division. Although the main event and co-main event will undoubtedly be exciting, the remaining part of the card is also being stuffed. Former champions Corey Anderson and Phil Davis will also compete at Bellator 297, as the promotion was originally revealed in a press release earlier today. On June 16 at Wintrust Arena, two of Bellator's top light heavyweights are scheduled to face off. ESPN broke the news of the matchup first, and the promotion later made the announcement. Following his title shot with Vadim Nemkov in November of last year, "Overtime" on the other hand, has not been inside the cage. Anderson was outplayed in the contest, losing by a unanimous decision. The loss ended the UFC veteran's four-fight winning run. He defeated well-known opponents like Ryan Bader and Melvin Manhoef during that time. 'Mr. Wonderful' recently defeated Julius Anglickas via decision at Bellator 276 in March. Before the triumph, Davis had defeated former UFC star Yoel Romero in a convincing decision match. The former title holder is aiming to move up the Bellator standings while maintaining an undefeated run of two matches. A light heavyweight championship fight between Nemkov and Romero is anticipated to serve as the main event of Bellator 297. A freshly added co-main event will feature Sergio Pettis trying to defend his bantamweight title versus the featherweight champion as well as former lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull. The matchup has generated a lot of excitement among MMA fans, with many predicting a close and exciting fight between the two light heavyweight contenders. With Bellator 297 set to take place on June 16, fight fans won't have to wait long to see this epic showdown unfold.

Logan Paul, the YouTube sensation turned professional boxer, has been making waves in the combat sports world since his debut in 2019. Paul, who is already working with the WWE, last competed in the ring in a one-sided match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2021. The sole professional bout on Paul's resume before then was a defeat to KSI in 2019. Paul eventually identified the Stockton native as his prospective adversary after making numerous other hints. Paul claimed in an interview ahead of his WrestleMania 39 showdown versus Seth Rollins this weekend that a high-paying bout had been on the board with the retired UFC fighter, however, according to Paul, Diaz's side has somewhat pulled back. “I think he’s running. This guy, I think he’s ducking,” Paul told BT Sport. “We have the sweetest deal for him and he knows the type of numbers I bring in. I’m not a quarter of a million [pay-per-view buys] type of fighter, you’re going to get 750,000 [to a] million buys, and I’m an 0-1 YouTuber. Seems like an easy fight on paper.” Paul does have a boatload on his plate right now yet has been planning his comeback to the ring for some while. The 27-year-old claims that while his team has raised the bar regarding wages, the window is still open. But, he is unsure of the reason why the Diaz administration has still not signed anything just yet. “As far as I know, it’s not dead because we had to f****** offer him more money. It’s like we’re baiting this guy into fighting me. It’s hard for me to get a fight because either you’re not worth my time and energy, or you’re not going to sell pay-per-views. I’ll do it, but I need a dance partner. And I don’t need a tune-up fight, give me the real dogs. Nate Diaz is a dog. I was looking forward to that fight, then I got a call the other day and they said they didn’t want to do it. It was almost done. I don’t know.” There is no denying that a potential matchup between Logan Paul and Nate Diaz would be a major event in the combat sports world. Diaz, a fan favorite known for his gritty fighting style and outspoken personality, would undoubtedly bring his A-game to the table. As for whether or not the fight will come to fruition, only time will tell. For now, fans can only speculate and debate over the potential outcome of this highly-anticipated matchup.

Vasiliy Lomachenko, 35, is conscious that he might never again have the chance to compete for the undisputed lightweight title against Devin Haney at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 20. The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN+ pay-per-view. “This chance, this fight, is the biggest moment of my professional career. This is my last chance [to win an undisputed title]. I don't want to talk about the future. We don't know the result [yet against Haney],” Lomachenko said in an interview with BoxingScene.com and other reporters. “Yes [this is the most excited I've been for a fight]. Because it's too close. I'll be honest, this is my last chance to be an undisputed world champion. That's why it's very important.” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) is a three-division champion who has won titles at 126, 130, and 135 pounds. He has earned gold for Ukraine at the Olympics twice. According to Lomachenko, being declared the undisputed champion would be equivalent to earning a gold medal. "I have big motivation, and that's my goal, to win the undisputed title,” said Lomachenko. In order to prevail over Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), Lomachenko will have to surmount significant size disadvantages in order to further enhance his resume and advance his quest for the Hall of Fame. Lomachenko defeated Jamaine Ortiz by unanimous decision in October despite obviously losing several rounds. The scores were 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113. “Look, everybody forgets about preparation, and that Jamaine was [previously was] my sparring partner. We had a lot of rounds with him,” said Lomachenko. “He absolutely knew me very well. But it is what it is. I agreed to fight him. He's a very talented and fast boxer. I think Jamaine Ortiz will be a big problem for any fighter in our weight classes.”

Anthony Joshua's propensity and willingness to compete against the best in the heavyweight category are readily apparent from a glance at his résumé. But Joshua will return to the ring in what is being seen as a significant drop-down in competition after losing to Oleksandr Usyk twice in a row. This Saturday at the O2 Arena in London, Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) will try to brutally put an end to Jermaine Franklin's night. Joshua will have recently hired trainer Derrick James in his corner. Franklin is seeking to rebuild himself after dropping a contentious decision to Dillian Whyte just a few months ago, much like Joshua is doing for Joshua. However, the 29-year-old is currently listed as a giant underdog. Deontay Wilder is unsure whether the former Olympic gold winner will return to winning ways despite popular opinion. Joshua, who is typically outgoing and simple to spot, has maintained a relatively low profile over the past few months. Although he has tried to keep his most recent training regimen a secret, brief glimpses of his exercises have been made public. Overall, Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) continues to have his reservations despite ramping up his work ethic. But the Alabama native believes that the 33-year-old has a laser-like focus. “If Joshua ain’t on his sh!t, he’ll get beat,” said Wilder to ESNEWS. “We’ll see how it goes.” While this is going on, Wilder is starting a pre-camp and getting ready to return to the arena. In addition to a long roster of potential opponents, Wilder has expressed interest in facing Francis Ngannou, a recent promotional free agent and former UFC heavyweight champion, as well as Andy Ruiz Jr. and Oleksandr Usyk.

Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin: The Battle of the Heavyweights Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring this weekend in a highly anticipated bout against American fighter Jermaine Franklin. This will be Joshua’s first fight since his back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, and the former heavyweight champion will be looking to make a statement and get back to winning ways. Franklin, on the other hand, will be looking to build on his impressive performance against Dillian Whyte and stake his claim in the heavyweight division. The fight will take place at the O2 Arena in London on Saturday, April 1, 2023. Fans can watch the fight on DAZN, with the undercard set to begin at 6 pm UK time and ring walks for the main fight expected at 10:30 pm. Joshua, who has a record of 24-3 (22 KOs), is known for his powerful punches and impressive physique. He stands at 6’6’’ with an 82’’ reach and fights in an orthodox stance. Franklin, who goes by the nickname “989 Assassin,” has a record of 21-1 (14 KOs) and stands at 6’2’’ with a 77’’ reach. He also fights in an orthodox stance. Both fighters have expressed confidence leading up to the fight. Joshua stated that he feels mentally and physically ready and wants to put on a show for his coach. Franklin, meanwhile, has vowed to shock the world and prove that it is his time to take his place at the top of the heavyweight division. In addition to the main event, the fight card also includes some exciting matchups. Matteo Signani will face off against Felix Cash for the EBU European middleweight title, while Fabio Wardley will take on Michael Polite Coffie in a heavyweight bout. Other fights include Austin Williams vs River Wilson-Bent, Campbell Hatton vs Louis Fielding, John Hedges vs Daniel Bocianski, Ziyad Almaayouf vs TBA, Peter Kadiru vs TBA, and Juergen Uldedaj vs TBA. The Betfred odds currently have Joshua as the overwhelming favorite, with odds of 1/12. Franklin is seen as the underdog, with odds of 6/1, while the draw has odds of 25/1. Overall, the stage is set for an exciting night of boxing at the O2 Arena. Will Joshua make a triumphant return to the ring, or will Franklin pull off an upset and shock the world? Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – this is a battle of the heavyweights that you won’t want to miss.