LONDON — Britain’s former twice world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will make his ring return in London on April 1 against American Jermaine Franklin, promoters Matchroom and DAZN said.
The fight at the 02 Arena will be the first time in nearly seven years that Joshua, 33, has fought without a world title at stake.
The Briton has not fought since his second straight loss to Ukraine’s WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO champion Oleksandr Usyk in a title rematch in Saudi Arabia last August, Reuters reported.
“Mentally and physically I feel ready,” said Joshua, who has a new trainer in Derrick James for the fight against a 29-year-old opponent.
Franklin, who has a 21-1 record with 14 knockouts and whose first defeat was on points to Britain’s Dillian Whyte at Wembley Arena last November, said Joshua had “had his time”.
Olympic silver medallist Richard Torrez provided some expert analysis on Joshua’s next fight.
“I am interested to see Joshua. I’m interested to see how he comes back,” Torrez told Sky Sports, “how he comes at the fight stylistically. If he chooses to be the boxer Joshua, I think it’s going to be a really good fight. Or if he tries to just sit down and throw or just kind of muscle something.
“It really comes down to Joshua now. I don’t think it’s going to be a fight between two people. It’s going to be a fight between Joshua and himself. If he comes out there and he does what he’s supposed to do and he has the game plan necessary, I think he’ll take the fight. And if not, it’s all up to him.”
It has been said that Joshua is caught between fighting styles. Torrez agrees to an extent.
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