Via Barry Holbrook: Anthony Joshua’s fight with Jermaine Franklin is now officially on April 1 on the regular non-PPV DAZN channel at the O2 Arena in London, England.
This is a must-win match for 33-year-old former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs), as he can no longer afford to accept defeat if he wants to achieve his dream of winning a championship. another world. title.
While American Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) was supposed to be an adjustment for Joshua to prepare for his summer bout with Dillian Whyte, it was in fact a risky bout for AJ, one where he he may lose.
AJ takes big risks
Joshua is betting on his career by deciding to fight super-fast combo boxer Franklin because he has a similar fighting style to Andy Ruiz Jr, but without the massive payload that the Mexican-American boxer carries. .
Fans who witnessed the Franklin-Whyte match last November realized that Franklin should have won that contest by at least six innings, as he overcame and beat a very good-looking Whyte. old.
It’s a classic example of a home fighter [Whyte] was made a decision he didn’t deserve. This time, Franklin vowed to knock out the judges on his second trip to London. No wonder Franklin didn’t want the chance to win the business a second time during the war in England.
On paper, Franklin is a much tougher fight for Joshua than the lackluster 34-year-old Whyte bout, which is why it would have been better if promoter Eddie Hearn scheduled a Joshua rematch- Whyte II in April and have AJ face Franklin in July.
The reason whyte’s game against Whyte was pushed to July was because it would be summer, and Hearn could put him and AJ in an outdoor stadium and attract a large audience.
The weather won’t be ideal on April 1 for the Joshua vs. Whyte on the outdoor stadium. Therefore, the match will take place in July. However, it was an easier fight for Joshua than Franklin, who could end up biting Hearn & AJ in the back if this blasted them in the face with Jermaine’s win.
Joshua said: “I’m looking forward to being back in the ring on April 1 at The O2 in London. “I want to show off and impress my coach [Derrick James], who have high standards. Franklin has a good sense of style.”
“I’m ready to show the world why it’s time for me to claim my top spot in the heavyweight division,” Franklin said. “Joshua had his time. It’s time for me to shock the world! This fight does NOT go to the referee’s card.”
The battle must be won for Joshua
“Of course, the main man, the big man, Anthony Joshua is back in the lion’s den, and it’s going to be a big card from top to bottom,” said Eddie Hearn. Boxing match. “It used to be the foundation of AJ,” Hearn said of O2.
“For a long time it was AJ’s home, it was a lion’s den, and I think it’s going to be very emotional when he’s back now. I think it will be really fun to go back to O2 Arena. I wish we had an extra 60,000 ticket. They will go very quickly.
“It was a big fight against Franklin. He’s going to have a big fight with Dillian Whyte [in November], and a really close fight. He is full of confidence. The heavyweights looked at AJ and thought, ‘There’s a crack in the armor, and I could be the one to take that scalp.’
“So everyone is going to up their game when they fight him, and it’s a definite must-win for AJ.
