Jermaine Franklin Stops Devin Vargas in Sixth Round And Now Eyes Heavyweight Contention

Jermaine Franklin returned to the ring after a 10-month hiatus, showcasing his power and determination in a sixth-round stoppage victory over veteran Devin Vargas. The heavyweight clash, which headlined the DAZN-streamed "Big Time Boxing USA" card from Detroit on Thursday night, saw Franklin drop Vargas twice before the former Olympian's corner waved off the fight.

Franklin, the 30-year-old fringe contender from Saginaw, Michigan, entered the bout promising a knockout and wasted little time pursuing that goal. In the opening round, he hurt Vargas with a right hand, forcing the 42-year-old Toledo native to cover up as Franklin unleashed a barrage of punches. Vargas, displaying remarkable resilience, weathered the early storm and made it through the round.

The second round followed a similar script, with Franklin landing a devastating left-right combination that had Vargas reeling. Despite absorbing flush punches, the "Devastating Devin" refused to go down, relying on his experience and heart to survive the onslaught. His mouth agape throughout the fight, Vargas managed to keep the third round competitive, but the writing was on the wall.

Franklin's breakthrough came in the fourth round when a vicious right uppercut sent Vargas to one knee in the corner. Amid the chaos, Franklin landed a shot while Vargas was down, but referee Ansel Stewart allowed the fight to continue. Vargas beat the count at nine, and despite blood pouring from his nose, he fought back valiantly until the bell.

The end came two rounds later when Franklin connected with a body shot that hurt Vargas, followed by a crushing left-right combination that sent him to the canvas once more. Although Vargas rose quickly, the bell saved him from further punishment. Between rounds, Vargas and his corner acknowledged the futility of continuing, and the contest was mercifully halted.

In his post-fight interview, Franklin admitted to deviating from his game plan, stating, "I felt like I made the fight harder than it needed to be. I'm not going to lie: Once I landed the first power punch, I just got happy. I couldn't calm down. I got outside of my game plan." The victorious heavyweight also addressed his weight, having tipped the scales at 254 pounds, nearly 20 more than his bout against Anthony Joshua. "I got a little bit off my diet, so I got a little fat," he conceded with a smile.

Looking ahead, Franklin expressed his desire to stay active, aiming to fight three or four times a year. His promoter, Dmitry Salita, named Joseph Parker as a potential next opponent but emphasized their commitment to keeping Franklin busy on the "Big Time Boxing USA" series if a marquee fight doesn't materialize.

For Vargas, the loss marked his fifth consecutive defeat and the eleventh of his career. The 2004 U.S. Olympian, who began his professional journey with a promising 17-0 start, has now fallen to 22-11 (9 K.O.s). Despite the setback, Vargas's bravery and determination in the face of adversity were commendable.

As Jermaine Franklin improves to 23-2 (15 K.O.s) and sets his sights on heavyweight contention, his performance against Devin Vargas serves as a reminder of his power and potential. With a renewed focus on staying active and honing his craft, Franklin aims to position himself for a title run in the near future. Boxing fans can expect to see more of the Saginaw native as he continues his journey toward the upper echelons of the heavyweight division.