Anthony Joshua is set to make a comeback as he announces his upcoming bout against Jermaine Franklin on April 1, to be held at the O2 Arena in London. 

This will be Joshua’s first fight in almost seven years that is not for a world title. Joshua has been a unified heavyweight champion, holding the WBO, WBA, and IBF titles from 2016 to 2018. 

However, he lost these titles to Andy Ruiz in 2019, only to reclaim them in a rematch later that year. Joshua has only won one fight since then, a 2020 victory over Kubrat Pulev. He was defeated by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and suffered a defeat in the rematch last August.

Since then, Joshua has changed his training setup and will return to the ring with a new trainer, Derrick James. Joshua stated, “I want to put on a show and impress my coach as he has high standards. Franklin has a good style and a great attitude, which he has shown in recent fights.” He went on to say, “Mentally and physically, I feel ready. I’m looking forward to stepping back into the ring on April 1.”

April’s opponent, Jermaine Franklin, is an American fighter who suffered the first defeat of his 22-bout professional career in November when he lost a majority decision to Dillian Whyte in London. 

However, Franklin is determined to upset Joshua, declaring on social media, “One thing I have learned about boxing. Never let the judges decide the winner. April 1, tell the judges to take the night off. We won’t need them. I don’t play boxing.”

This upcoming fight between Joshua and Franklin promises to be an exciting and intense bout as both fighters look to put their best foot forward and impress the fans. Joshua will be seeking redemption after his recent losses, while Franklin will be hoping to make a name for himself by defeating a former unified heavyweight champion. 

Leon Osamor