Joshua is eager to regain world titles

Anthony Joshuas promoter, Eddie Hearn has insisted the British-Nigerian is desperate to regain the world titles and become a three-time heavyweight champion when he returns to the ring against Jermaine Franklin in April.

Joshua will look to revive his career against the American at London’s O2 Arena in what will be his first appearance since back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

A defeat to Franklin would likely remove the Watford warrior from the world title, but promoter Hearn is confident the former two-time unified heavyweight champion will return to winning ways in style.

“It’s a really tough fight with a lot of pressure to come back because if AJ doesn’t win this fight, we’re in big trouble. I believe you will see a statement from a man who is very dangerous, very motivated to become a three-time world heavyweight champion,” Hearn told the BBC.

The heavy-handed Franklin has been dismissed as an easy opponent for Joshua, despite going the distance last November with recent WBC title challenger Dillian White.

Hearn said, “There’s so much contradiction, ‘Anthony Joshua is done, mentally he’s shot. “But he’ll knock Jermaine Franklin out in three rounds.”

“The same people who say Jermaine Franklin beat Dillian Whyte, but he’s a terrible opponent for Anthony Joshua, in a comeback fight after two defeats against the pound-for-pound number one.”

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