That's the end of this live page as Anthony Joshua got back to winning ways, but there will be some critics unhappy that he could not knock out Jermaine Franklin.

Nevertheless, the Briton gets the victory with a unanimous points decision to keep his hopes of becoming a three-time world champion alive.

Thanks for joining us and until next time, bye for now.

Kal Sajad
BBC Sport at O2 Arena, London

Anthony Joshua returned to winning ways with a unanimous points victory over Jermaine Franklin at London's O2 Arena.

The British heavyweight, 33, controlled the contest against the durable American but it was not the explosive early finish many expected.

Two judges scored it 117-111 and one 118-111 to Joshua.

Tempers flared after the final bell as the two fighters squared up to each other, prompting their teams to enter the ring and be separated by security.

It is Joshua's first win in more than two years, having lost consecutive bouts to Oleksandr Usyk.

"It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck-and-dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out," Joshua said.

"I respect him, he did well. I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out."

Joshua has now won 25 fights, with 22 stoppages, and lost three since turning professional in 2013. It is a second defeat for Franklin, 29, having lost to Briton Dillian Whyte in November.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Anthony Joshua speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "No knockout, so no good. It is a brutal sport, but knockouts are everything. I'm not too happy.

"I could have thrown more shots, and I should have, no excuses. But I will. That is part of coming back; you have to be your own biggest critic. If you want to progress, you can't say that was brilliant and chill out.

"Franklin is a decent counter-puncher; the right hand wasn't landing; that is one of my best shots but we will build.

"Whatever my coach wants to work on, we'll work on. I don't want to put pressure on Derrick; everything that happens in the ring is on me. If you want to be a fighter you have to deal with the pressure."

Image source, Reuters

Dillian Whyte
Heavyweight on BBC Radio 5 Live

Joshua has lost all his aggression and killer instincts. The ability is still there, the boxing is still there – he looks the part.

But every time Franklin shaped up like he was going to hit him, he hesitated. I’ve never seen him like that, he’s a bit shell-shocked.

The last few rounds Joshua was very hesitant.

Signs of fighter who doesn’t want to do it anymore. If he doesn’t want to do it anymore, I think he should stop.

More from two-weight world champion Carl Frampton: "If there’s confidence issues over his engine, going the distance in a reasonably high-paced fight will do Joshua the world of good.

"He looked to be punching at the target rather than through it. Two weeks off, then straight back to Texas with Derrick James. Good win."

Carl Froch
Former world super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

In the ring at world title level he’s been there, done the business. And now I don’t know. What motivates him?

We talked about it, he wants the money. I don’t understand why he’s fighting. I just don’t. It’s a dangerous sport. Money can’t be the motivation when you’ve earned over £100m.

I've not seen anything in that performance that he wants to be a world champion again.

Trainer Derrick James to DAZN: "For me it was all about getting the win; I didn't care how. After this, we'll come back and build; we saw he was able to box on the inside, how devastating his jab was, how good his movement was.

"Towards the end, he looked like he was ready to go. I told him to pick up the pace in the last couple of rounds. The more we work together, the more he'll be able to do what I want him to do. If he wants [Fury], I want what he wants."

WBA female super-welterweight Hannah Rankin champion: "Let’s go AJ!"

Boxing journalist Nick Peet: "Reposting this as it’s the truth. AJ well and truly rebuilding from the ground up. Tonight’s version isn’t a leading contender. Long road back for AJ."

Promoter Eddie Hearn to DAZN: "AJ is going to want the biggest fights. Tonight was a step down from Oleksandr Usyk, but there was huge pressure. He ended the fight well, but like he said they aren't getting any younger. We would be willing to entertain those conversations to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer.

"We've got Dillian Whyte down there, Deontay Wilder, a lot of good fighters. I think he will improve under Derrick James. There are a lot of improvements to make."

Anthony Joshua to DAZN: "Last time I grabbed the mic, it was a bit chaotic. I'm calm; I appreciate everyone coming out this evening. Inside the ring, it is a different energy so I apologise to those watching. I respect Jermaine, Eddie [Hearn], thank you for this opportunity. Fans, thank you as well.

"It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck and dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out; respect to him, he did well. I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out."

Joshua on what next: "I try and provide for the fans. I know who they want. They said Tyson Fury; the ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World. If he's listening, he knows my promoter; we've had dialogue before, so let's continue this. We ain't getting any younger."

Image source, Reuters

Two-weight world champion Carl Frampton has given his verdict and said: "AJ came in at his heaviest ever. We all thought he'd have to win in the first half, but his engine was better than we've ever seen it."

Joshua, speaking in the ring, has just said 'he should've knocked out' Franklin.

Full quotes coming soon.

Image source, Reuters

Carl Froch
Former world super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Dillian Whyte based on that performance, would fancy the Joshua fight.

Carl Froch
Former world super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Franklin is not in contention to fight the top four or five.

AJ stepped it up now and again, but made easy work of it.

Anthony Joshua gets the victory, it is a unanimous decision by 118-111, 117-111, 117-111 margins.

So one judge has it by seven rounds, with the other two giving Joshua a six-round winning distance.

Image source, BBC Sport

Carl Froch
Former world super-middleweight champion on BBC Radio 5 live

AJ gets the win, but for me, not convincing enough.

So, at the end, after the final bell, Joshua tapped the back of the Franklin head, the American has reacted, the pair have squared up to each other, then the corners have got involved with some pushing and shoving.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Steve Bunce
Boxing expert on BBC Radio 5 Live

That wasn't the fight we wanted, but it might have been the fight Joshua needed.

Ugly scenes right at the end, with some more bad blood between both men. Derrick James tells Joshua to keep his calm.

It goes the distance.