Jermaine Franklin (born October 21, 1993) is an American professional boxer.
Franklin was born in Saginaw, Michigan, where he spent most of his time growing up. His stepfather introduced him to boxing around the age of 12 as a means to avoid fighting in the streets and to learn discipline. Coming from a challenging environment with high crime rates, his mother had to work hard to keep him on the right path.
His nickname '989 Assassin' is a reference to the area code of Saginaw, where Franklin was born.
Franklin's amateur career was marked by some significant achievements, including a win over Cassius Chaney. He reached the finals of the 2013 National Golden Gloves Championship, losing to Cam F. Awesome. The two met again in the 2014 final, where Franklin avenged the loss and won on points. Despite an opportunity to compete in the 2016 Olympic Games, he decided to turn professional in 2015.
Franklin fought Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena in London on November 26, 2022. Whyte won by majority decision, although the decision of the fight was controversial with many scoring it as a draw, or for Franklin winning.
A bout between Franklin and Anthony Joshua took place on April 1, 2023 at The O2 in London, with Joshua the winner by unanimous decision.
On 28 March 2026, Franklin fought Moses Itauma at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England. Following a dominant performance, Itauma won by TKO in the 5th round.
Between 2019 and 2022, Franklin filed for bankruptcy, due to financial and managerial issues, and worked 12-hour night shifts to support his family.
As of 2023, he has two daughters and one son.