Jermain Franklin says he had a tougher time fighting Ivan Dychko than he did against Anthony Joshua.‘The 989 Assassin’ enters the UK for just the third time in his career this weekend to face Moses Itauma, having suffered his only two professional defeats to Joshua and Dillian Whyte on British soil.Franklin believes he can cause an upset against Itauma in Manchester on SaturdayGettyAlthough Franklin hasn’t lost since his 2023 defeat to ‘AJ’, the odds are stacked against the American for the Magnificent 7 headliner, which was postponed in January until March 28 after Itauma tore his bicep in training.Franklin is 11 years Itauma’s senior, and many members of the boxing fraternity are viewing the pair’s clash as just one of the many stepping stones for the latter to reach world title level.However, Franklin has vowed to turn the tide in Manchester on Saturday and use his experience to get the better of Britain’s heavyweight star.The 32-year-old is also entering the fight having overcome extreme adversity before his last win in the ring.Franklin’s father passed away only two weeks before he fought the previously undefeated Dychko on September 13.And despite admitting ‘AJ’ delivered the single hardest punch of his career, the emotional toll he faced against Dychko puts it on a pedestal as his toughest yet.“My hardest fight would probably be Ivan Dychko,” Franklin told talkSPORT.com.“To me, I was in a tough sport. So I was fighting myself and him at the same time.”Franklin met Dychko, who once ‘dropped Joshua’ in sparring, on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s historic win over Canelo Alvarez last September.The action was limited throughout the ten-round heavyweight bout at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, but Franklin did enough to earn a points victory against the 6ft 9ins Kazakh.Franklin, 24-2, handed Dychko the first defeat of his pro career in Las VegasGettyHis dad’s passing two weeks before the fight ranks it as his toughest everGettyFranklin did, however, admit that Joshua hit him the hardest in his career thus farGettyHis next fight against Itauma will no doubt be a step up in competition.And Franklin believes it won’t just be the Englishman he’s up against at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.Franklin: I hope judges are fair in Itauma fight“I don’t really compare it as a fighter,” Franklin added, speaking on his return to the UK for a third time.“My only problem with boxing is that I think we all should be treated fairly, no matter where we are. “It should be fair grounds from judges and from that standpoint. But you know, it’s hard when you come into a different country.“So it’s like I’m fighting against him and I’m fighting against the judges at the same time.Franklin believes he will be fighting the judges and Itauma when the pair come to blows in ManchesterGetty“I have to do a lot to win, it’s like putting myself in a situation, but I’m prepared to dog it out if I have to.”Franklin scored back-to-back wins against Issac Munoz Gutierrez and Devin Vargas after falling to Joshua.“He’s just got brute strength,” Franklin said of his meeting with Joshua.“I could take a good punch, but the first right hand he hit me with, I was like, ‘Okay, he’s strong.’“But in my mind, I’m like, I can’t show him that he’s strong.“He’s just gonna have to knock me out. So I had to be prepared to fight and dog it out.”Franklin must have the same mindset when he fights the undefeated Itauma this weekend.It took Itauma just one round to dispose of Whyte in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last time out, having won all but two of his 13 pro fights inside the distance.Boxing scheduleFor all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s boxing schedule.