Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to make his return to the boxing ring on April 1 at the O2 Arena in London, where he will face Jermaine Franklin. Fans are eagerly anticipating Joshua’s triumph over the American opponent. Franklin made his UK debut in November, where he earned respect for a hard-fought majority decision loss to Joshua’s rival, Dillian Whyte. This match marked the first defeat in Franklin’s 22-fight career.
Joshua’s second reign as world champion ended with a unanimous decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021. In their rematch last August, Usyk retained the WBA, IBF, and WBO belts with a split decision victory. Meanwhile, discussions are underway for Usyk to face WBC champion Tyson Fury in the coming months, while Joshua aims to kickstart his career rebuild on April 1.
Saleh Fawaz, CEO of Nigeria’s leading boxing promotional and management company, Saleh Gloves Promotions, expressed confidence in Joshua’s ability to regain his footing in this match. He stated, “It is a good fight. I didn’t think it was wise for him to jump into a huge opponent like (Deontay) Wilder or Fury right away. This fight is a good opportunity for him to get back into the ring and try to return to winning ways.” Fawaz expects Joshua to win but emphasizes the need for respect towards Franklin, who fought twice last year and went the distance with Whyte. He noted that while Joshua only fought once last year, Franklin has been inactive for two years, making this a comeback for both fighters. However, Fawaz believes Joshua’s skill set and longer reach should give him the advantage.
Joshua’s manager, Eddie Hearn, has previously indicated that a third consecutive loss could spell the end of Joshua’s career, a sentiment Fawaz agrees with. He remarked, “Because of his losses and poor performances recently, the ball is not in his court to secure the next big fight. If he loses this match, it could be all over for him, and even his promoter, Eddie Hearn, has acknowledged this.”
Tomi Isijola, a female boxing fan, cautioned against underestimating Franklin, noting his skills demonstrated in the fight against Whyte. She believes that Franklin could pose a challenge to Joshua, stating, “Joshua needs to be ready physically and mentally to show Franklin who is boss. I want to see a good fight, and I would be open to seeing Franklin give Joshua a run for his money.”
John Jimoh, a long-time follower of Joshua since his Olympic gold win in 2012, is optimistic about Joshua’s chances against Franklin. He stated, “I think Joshua is going to win this fight, considering what he is capable of. We shouldn’t judge this match based on his last two losses to Usyk, as we know Usyk is a very fast fighter. I believe Joshua has a great chance of winning and will want to reclaim his glory and return to a title shot.”
On social media, opinions are mixed. Some fans praise Joshua, while others suggest he should seek bigger fights. Franklin Chinasi tweeted that Joshua should consider fighting Wilder, Fury, or Andy Ruiz Jr. In contrast, another Twitter user, @manutd56753206, expressed hope for Joshua’s return to the top of the heavyweight division, stating, “I hope you see this man, you are the champ, you were always the champ. I DON’T WANT THIS SOFT SORRY LOOKING AJ, I WANT THE B*DDEST, M*ANEST, N*STIEST, WRECKING MACHINE @anthonyjoshua.”
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