Dillian Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs) made his highly anticipated return to the ring on Saturday, November 26, 2022, facing undefeated American contender Jermaine Franklin (21-0, 14 KOs) at the OVO Arena, Wembley. The event, broadcast live worldwide on DAZN, was a crucial heavyweight clash with significant implications for both fighters’ careers and the division at large.
Whyte, known as ‘The Body Snatcher,’ was looking to rebound from a convincing sixth-round stoppage defeat earlier in 2022 against WBC heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, at England’s national stadium. This bout against Franklin was positioned as the beginning of his ascent towards a second world title opportunity. For Franklin, the fight represented his first professional outing outside the United States and a chance to upset Whyte, potentially derailing the Briton’s plans and instead securing a major pay-per-view clash with Anthony Joshua in the spring.
Fighter Backgrounds and High Stakes
Dillian Whyte, a Jamaican-British professional boxer, entered the fight with a record of 28 wins and 3 losses, with 19 of his victories coming by knockout. Prior to his loss to Fury, Whyte had established himself as a consistent contender in the heavyweight division, holding the WBC interim heavyweight title twice. His career has seen him face a string of top heavyweights, including Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora, and Alexander Povetkin.
Jermaine Franklin, hailing from Saginaw, Michigan, brought an unblemished record of 21 wins, 0 losses, and 14 knockouts into the contest. Known as the ‘989 Assassin,’ Franklin had built his record primarily in the United States, with notable wins over opponents like Jerry Forrest. At 29 years old at the time of the fight, Franklin was seen as a rising prospect eager to prove himself on the international stage against a seasoned veteran like Whyte.
The prospect of a major pay-per-view, stadium headliner fight with Anthony Joshua early the following year had been dangled at Whyte, contingent on him getting through Franklin unscathed. This added immense pressure and a clear incentive for Whyte to perform. Conversely, Franklin hoped to upset ‘The Body Snatcher’ and seize that lucrative opportunity to face Joshua.
The Undercard: A Showcase of Talent
The main card action for Whyte vs Franklin commenced at 7:00 pm BST (2 pm ET, 11 am PT) and featured at least five compelling fights. Beyond the main event, viewers were treated to several intriguing matchups.
One of the most anticipated bouts saw Fabio Wardley (14-0, 13 KOs at the time) take on Nathan Gorman (19-1, 13 KOs at the time) for the vacant British Heavyweight title. Wardley delivered an impressive performance, stopping Gorman by TKO in the third round to claim the Lonsdale belt. Wardley, who had no amateur career, demonstrated significant power, dropping Gorman three times before Gorman’s corner threw in the towel.
Another notable clash featured Craig Richards (17-3-1, 10 KOs at the time) against Ricards Bolotniks (19-6-1, 8 KOs at the time) in a light heavyweight bout for the WBA International title. Both fighters had recently suffered losses to Joshua Buatsi, making this a critical fight for their careers. Richards emerged victorious, though the outcome reportedly caused “fallout” and “fury” from Bolotniks, suggesting a close or controversial decision.
The preliminary action, streamed on the Matchroom and DAZN YouTube channels, began at 5:00 pm BST (12:00 am ET, 9:00 am PT). This segment showcased up-and-coming prospects, including Team GB amateur standout Mark Dickinson, Irish Heavyweight hope Thomas Carty, and debutant George Liddard. Olympians Cheavon Clarke and Pat McCormack also featured on the card. George Liddard made a successful professional debut, stopping Nikola Matic in the second round of their scheduled four-round contest. Pat McCormack, an Olympic silver medallist, also secured a victory, winning on points against Christian Nicolas Andino.
The Main Event: Whyte Edges Franklin in Controversial Decision
The main event ring walks for Whyte vs Franklin were expected at approximately 10:30 pm BST (5:30 pm ET, 2:30 pm PT). The fight itself proved to be a gruelling twelve-round affair that went the distance, with Dillian Whyte ultimately securing a majority decision victory.
The judges’ scorecards read 115-115, 116-112, and 116-112 in favour of Whyte. However, the decision was widely considered controversial, with many observers and media outlets scoring the fight as a draw or even a win for Franklin. Franklin started strong, often having Whyte on the back foot and effectively landing his jab in the opening rounds. Whyte began to find success with body shots in the mid-rounds, but Franklin continued to counter effectively.
CompuBox statistics revealed a close contest, with Franklin landing 165 of 606 punches thrown (27.2%), including 105 power punches. Whyte landed 144 of 608 punches thrown (23.2%). Notably, Franklin landed 23 more body punches and 27 more jabs than Whyte. Despite Franklin’s higher volume and consistent work, Whyte landed some of the more eye-catching power shots, particularly in the later rounds. In the ninth round, Franklin staggered Whyte with a right hand, and in the final round, Whyte landed a left hook that sent Franklin stumbling into the ropes, though he couldn’t capitalize for a stoppage. The crowd at the OVO Arena reportedly booed when Whyte was announced as the winner, reflecting the contentious nature of the decision.
Aftermath and Divisional Implications
In the immediate aftermath, Dillian Whyte admitted he would have considered retirement had he lost the fight, while Jermaine Franklin felt he had done enough to earn the victory and called for a rematch. However, a rematch between the two did not materialize.
The highly anticipated clash with Anthony Joshua, initially dangled for Whyte, took an unexpected turn. Instead, Jermaine Franklin stepped in to face Anthony Joshua on April 1, 2023, at The O2 Arena in London. Joshua, coming off back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, won the fight by unanimous decision (118-111, 117-111, 117-111), controlling the bout with his jab and combinations. This marked Franklin’s second professional loss.
A rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte was eventually scheduled for August 12, 2023, at the O2 Arena, eight years after their first professional encounter. However, this highly anticipated rematch was canceled after Whyte returned adverse analytical findings in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) test.
As of May 2026, Dillian Whyte’s professional record stands at 31 wins and 4 losses, with 21 knockouts. He recently suffered a first-round TKO loss to Moses Itauma in August 2025. Jermaine Franklin’s record is 24 wins and 3 losses, with 15 knockouts, having also faced Moses Itauma in March 2026, losing by TKO in the fifth round.
The Whyte vs. Franklin event, while delivering a controversial main event, served as a significant platform for several British heavyweights and rising prospects. It underscored the unpredictable nature of the heavyweight division and the constant jockeying for position at the elite level. DAZN continues to be a major player in broadcasting top-tier boxing events, with subscriptions available for £7.99, offering access to a range of fights including Estrada Chocolatitio 3 on December 3, and Josh Warrington vs Luis Alberto Lopez on December 10, among other events.
Prices for the Whyte vs Franklin event ranged from Ringside £538.50 to Seating F £47.50. Follow NoSmokeBoxing on X for the latest updates.
