Anthony Joshua’s return is on the horizon, and all the details are reportedly finalised for the former unified world heavyweight champion to face Jermaine Franklin.
NoSmokeBoxing were the first to report that the American heavyweight had verbally agreed to all terms to take on ‘AJ’ at the O2 Arena in London on April 1st, with it being Joshua’s first fight on DAZN since signing an exclusive deal to the streaming service last year.
‘AJ’ is on the comeback trail after suffering back-to-back losses to pound-for-pound great Oleksandr Usyk, and Joshua is desperate to get back to the stratosphere of the heavyweight division.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, laid out a three-fight plan for the former world champion, and the first stop was the return against a top-15 heavyweight. Hearn told IFL TV that there were three names in the running, but Franklin has emerged as favourite.
Franklin gave a good account of himself despite suffering his first career defeat to Dillian Whyte in November last year, as the American was controversially on the wrong end of a split decision.
It is also heavily reported that ‘AJ’ will be fighting under a training team. Last time out, Robert Garcia headed the corner for Joshua, but the reports suggest that the man to be heading his corner from now on is Derrick James, the trainer of unified welterweight champion, Errol Spence.
There has been no official announcement yet, however, expect one imminently to confirm the return of Joshua, as he embarks on his journey back to the top.