Joshua vs Franklin LIVE: Result, reaction and latest updates after AJ claims victory

The final bell sounded early, but the fight finished late. Even after Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin had finished trading blows, they were trading barbs in the ring. Meanwhile, outside of the squared circle, there was the threat of fists being thrown.

In some ways, it was the most exciting spell of the night. What preceded was a cluster of 12 messy rounds, with the blood smeared on Joshua’s pristine white shorts and the white shirt of the referee symbolic of the fight that could have been, rather than the fight that was. And for “AJ”, this was arguably a case of the win that should have been, rather than the win that was.

The Briton entered the O2 Arena in desperate need of a victory, potentially to salvage a decorated but complicated career, off the back of two straight defeats by Oleksandr Usyk. And Joshua, in the eyes of many, needed not only a victory but a convincing one to do that – the kind of knockout that he produced so often in the past to enthrall a generation. Under a rare pressure on Saturday night, that finish eluded Joshua.

At the very venue where Joshua took out Kevin Johnson, Gary Cornish, Dillian Whyte, Charles Martin and Dominic Breazeale in five consecutive fights between 2015 and 2016, fans were forced to feed on nostalgia. In fact, highlights of those knockouts were shown on the big screens at the O2 before the main event began, but Joshua was unable to revisit the past in a way that would have saved his future for sure. As it was, the 33-year-old did ensure that he will fight another day, but he failed to answer some of the most important questions posed ahead of this bout.

Tony Bellew on whether people will be impressed by Anthony Joshua’s performance: “No, people will look at the negatives. You come into the fight with an 81 percent knockout ratio, they haven't come to see you win on points.

“It wasn't a super impressive performance, he wasn't super powerful or super quick. But he'll have got confidence from 12 rounds at a canter.”

Trainer Derrick James: “It was all about getting out here and getting the win. I didn’t care how he won it. We’ll build and build.

“You saw how he was able to fight on the inside, how devastating the jab was. You see how his movement was.

“Now we need to go back and build and build. Towards the end, yes, at the end I thought he was ready to go. The last couple rounds, the more we work together, the more he’ll do exactly what I need him to do.

“I’m a guy who wants what he wants. It’s not my life to live, I care what he wants.”

Eddie Hearn: “AJ wants the biggest fights. Tonight was a step down from Usyk, he's learning a lot.

“We’re willing to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight this summer.

“He’s improved a lot, but he wants the biggest fights as well.”

Joshua adds: “You’ll see me in the summer for sure. You’ll definitely see me in the summer.”

Joshua: “I try to provide for the fans. I know who the fans want!

“They said Fury, yes? The ball is in his court. I’d be honoured to compete for the WBC championship of the world.

“Wherever you are, you know our manager and promoter, hopefully we can get this on sooner or later.

“I can’t wait to get back to Texas and develop. One fight leads to another.”

Joshua: “I'm calm, last time I grabbed the mic it was a bit chaotic. I respect Jermaine.

“It was important to get the win. Somebody else will knock him out, probably, from Britain. There were opportunities there, he tucked up well. They prepared well. I should have knocked him out, but what can I say, it’s done.

“When people come to fight me, they rustle up a different kind of energy, he’s here to prove himself, he ain’t here to roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out. In the next 15 years, nobody will remember that fight.

“I don’t watch my weight, I train to the sparring rounds, 13 or 15 rounds, I adapt my body, I don’t worry about my weight.

“British boxing is an amazing thing. I appreciate every single one of you, no banter.”

Anthony Joshua beats Jermaine Franklin by UD: 118-111, 117-111, 117-111.

Not much joy in AJ there?

A stare into the darkness around the arena, interesting. Business.

Joshua tagged Franklin there after the final bell, to the back of the head. Was it playful?

Franklin didn’t think so. They have a rumble and it’s ugly after 12 gripping rounds.

The tension between the pair is quickly extinguished. We go to the scorecards.

Franklin now opts to test Joshua’s body.

Will the American risk it all? Bellew gave the 11th to him, a first of the fight for the ‘Bomber’.

Will Joshua be content now though?

Big right from AJ and Franklin is definitely hurt now, vulnerable in the final minute.

Now the American backs up Joshua, the pair come together again, and the Briton can’t believe he’s still there, an expression of confusion almost.

That’s it, the final bell sounds, Franklin survived!

Big body shot from AJ!

The crowd react, Franklin backs up, is this the moment?

Franklin waiting for an opening, will AJ dare pursue the knockout and leave the back door open?

Joshua’s jab still helping him keep the American’s assaults down. More sneaky shots from Franklin though.