Anthony Joshua returned to their winning ways, but only after a painstaking showdown in unanimous victory Jermaine Franklin.
The Briton had lost three of their last five games; Oleksandr Usikhowever, it tasted success again for the first time since 2020 after the referees scored 118-111, 117-111 and 117-111 in favor of the home favorite in the London game.
Joshua regularly landed on the ground with his left elbow and several times caught Franklin with his strong right, but American heavyweight stood firm.
A strange ending has occurred O2 Arena Round 12 seemed to have finished eight seconds before Joshua poked his head into Franklin, prompting an angry response from Lorenzo Adams, the US boxer’s strength and conditioning coach, who pushed the Finchley fighter.
It was quickly resolved and Joshua’s hand was raised again to give him his 25th professional win and keep hopes of the Battle of Britain with WBC champion Tyson Fury alive.