Franklin vs. Vargas

Jermaine Franklin Jr. vs. Devin Vargas:
Franklin wins by RTD in 6th round.

Ali Akhmedov vs. Encarnacion Diaz:
Akhmedov wins by TKO in 2nd round.

Joshua James Pagan vs. Roger Hilley:
Pagan wins by UD.

Josiah Shackleford vs. Ja'shar Banks: Shackleford wins by TKO in 4th round.

Heavyweight contender Jermain Franklin (22-4, 14 KOs) is set to return to the ring on May 23rd, marking ten months since his last appearance. Franklin, known for enduring fights against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte in the UK, is slated for what appears to be an easier bout against 30-year-old Devin Vargas (22-10, 9 KOs) from Saginaw. Vargas is now 42 years old and hasn't secured a victory since 2020. His last fight was in July of the previous year, mirroring Franklin's schedule, but Vargas has lost his last four fights and six out of his last eight.

Vargas has faced notable opponents like Dominic Breazeale, Andy Ruiz, Junior Fa, Zhilei Zhang, and “Prince” Charles Martin, but was defeated by most of them, often by stoppage. It's uncertain how much Vargas has left in the tank at age 42, after starting his professional career back in 2004. Franklin will face Vargas in Detroit, where anything less than a straightforward victory could significantly harm his career.

Franklin has won only one fight since his back-to-back decision losses to AJ and Whyte but remains a capable fighter with potential in the heavyweight division. Some observers even believe he did enough to win against Whyte, and while a rematch seems unlikely, it would be intriguing. Franklin might quickly dispatch Vargas or use the fight to shake off some rust with a few rounds of action. Regardless, a win is expected for Franklin.

Watch Whyte vs. Franklin highlights: Watch

The event will also feature a co-main event where Joshua James Pagan (9-0, 4 KOs) will face Roger Hilley (13-0, 8 KOs) with the NABF belt at 140 pounds on the line.

Fight card:

▪️Jermaine Franklin Jr. vs. Devin Vargas, 10 rounds, heavyweight ▪️Ali Akhmedov vs. Encarnacion Diaz, 10 rounds, super middleweight ▪️Joshua James Pagan vs. Roger Hilley, 8 rounds, lightweight ▪️Josiah Shackleford vs. Ja'shar Banks, 4 rounds, middleweight