How Franklin lost 2nd place to Anthony Joshua struggled with a strict diet as he revealed his very British way of celebrating the win

JERMAINE FRANKLIN has beef and a trip to Buckingham Palace on the menu when he beats Anthony Joshua on Saturday.

The American has swapped red meat for fish and fruit smoothies since his points loss to Dillian Whyte in November – and nearly lost two stone.

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And when the underdog Joshua can be as impressive as cutting his waist, he has a very British way of celebrating on Sunday.

Franklin, 29, said: “I stopped eating red meat, reduced sugar and lost 22 pounds.

“The things I miss the most are probably ribs or steak. I used to love steaks. I would feel really bad – smelling it makes me hungry!

“Once I win I’ll have a good batch of ribs and steak and I want to see the city a bit. See Buckingham Palace.

“We’ve already passed the Tower of London, but I like to stay in my room and concentrate before a fight, so I’ll try to leave probably after the fight. After I win, not when I win.”

Joshua declined Franklin’s handshake at Wednesday’s press conference as the trash talk heated up.

The Michigan man said: “I wanted to shake his hand but he turned in the opposite direction.

“He might have been mad because I said I was going to knock him out.

“I just answered the questions the way they asked them – I didn’t mean to be disrespectful.

“I didn’t disrespect the guy, but if they ask me what I think I’m going to do, I’ll tell them.” I won’t sugarcoat it.”

Despite a decade of Olympic and world titles, AJ have failed to sell out the 18,000-seat O2 in some of Britain’s biggest stadiums.

And that could result in the Franklin family fan club overpowering Team Joshua and urging her husband to get excited.

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He said: “My mother and my sister are coming over. You’ll see my little sister, she’s a character, she’s a lot of action, most of the time.

“You could hear them about a lot of people. You’ll have to tell her to sit down.”

Franklin’s godmother, nicknamed Boobut, died earlier in the week and the American admits he won’t even start grieving until he can go home.

He said: “She has been struggling with some health issues.

“We were very close. She’d always been there, always wished me the best. We’d always spent a lot of time together since we were kids.

“It was hard to take. I didn’t think it was real. I thought my mother was lying when she told me.

“I had to put it on the back burner until I can get home and start processing it.”