Via Barry Holbrook: Eddie Hearn says the lead for Anthony Joshua’s next fight in March is winner Dillian Whyte vs. Jermaine Franklin.
Whyte (28-3, 19 KOs) and undefeated Franklin (21-0, 14 KOs) are fighting this month on Nov. live on DAZN at Wembley Arena in London, England.
Hearn feels that Joshua’s fight against Whyte, 34, is a big one that could fill a stadium and he wants AJ to use it to prepare for a big clash with Deontay Wilder next year.
“I think Otto Wallin is a very fair fight for Joshua to come back,” Eddie Hearn told Against TV Hub about Anthony Joshua’s next fight in March.
“A lot of them pay for themselves. Filip Hrgovic is a great fight. He is a mandatory IBF. I think winners Dillian Whyte and Jermaine Franklin are very, very good frontrunners for the next [for Anthony Joshua to fight].
“He was called bluff, and he accepted it, and he lost his faith in boxing a bit because he really wanted to fight Tyson Fury,” Hearn said of Joshua accepting the offer. fight from Tyson Fury after being called by him.
“I think that’s the main reason he’s not fighting this year because it messes with his spirit and makes him think, ‘What are these people doing? Surname [Fury] say they want to fight me. Now I have a deadline. Chisora had an extra month on the deal, and I had to sign it then.
“That’s why you’ll be fighting maybe late February but probably March,” Hearn said of Joshua. “We beat the competition tonight, and I think he will probably have the rest of the year and start camping in early January.
“Sure,” Hearn said when asked if Joshua could fight Deontay Wilder in 2023. “He’s one of the names I mentioned tonight.
“I can’t tell a fight with AJ that he doesn’t [want]. I said tonight, ‘Did you see Andy Ruiz there?’ He said, ‘Yes, I want to fight him again.’ I said, ‘Why? I won’t fight him anymore. ‘ He said, ‘Why not?’ ‘F**k off. He was terrible. ‘
“Afterward [Bakhodir] Jalolov, that guy, he’s fighting with him. I said, ‘Yes, I saw Jalolov,’ and he said, ‘I want to fight him.’ I said, ‘Why? It’s like 4-0, but he just wants to fight everyone.
“It’s not going to be an easy fight, but an easier one before he goes against Deontay Wilder or Dillian Whyte, basically. Yes, it’s possible,” Hearn said when asked if Joshua will fight Whyte in March.
