After back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua will look to get back to winning ways when he returns to the ring in London on April 1st.
American Jermaine Franklin will be the next test for the former Olympic champion, who will turn 34 later this year.
What | Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin |
Where | O2 Arena, London |
When | Saturday, 1st April 2023 |
How to watch | DAZN |
Odds | Anthony Joshua 1/12, Jermaine Franklin 6/1 |
Joshua’s return to action against Franklin is set to take place on Saturday, 1st April, which will be eight months since his second fight with Usyk.
The exact times are yet to be confirmed, but the fight press conferences will begin in February as part of the build-up.
The heavyweight fight will take place at the O2 Arena in London, which will be the eighth time Joshua will have fought at the venue.
The Englishman began his professional career at the O2 in 2013, when he knocked out Emanuele Leo in the first round.
The Matchroom Boxing group signed a five-year deal with DAZN in 2021, but this is set to be Joshua’s first fight with the broadcaster and it will be streamed live.
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Speaking after the deal was agreed, the former world champion said: “I’ve been working with DAZN and following its progress for a long time.
“We have enjoyed a really successful partnership in the US for many years and I know the team and understand the passion and drive of the business.”
The home fighter is a big favourite to come out on top, with Joshua 1/12 to claim his first victory since his knockout of Kubrat Pulev in December 2020.
Franklin will be fighting outside the US for only the second time and is 6/1 to cause an upset and inflict a third straight defeat on Joshua.
There are no belts on the line, with Joshua having lost his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles in his first fight with Ukrainian Usyk.
The WBC heavyweight belt is still held by Tyson Fury, after retaining his title with victory over Derek Chisora in December 2022.
Joshua currently holds a 24-3 record in his professional career, with all of his three defeats coming in the last four years.
The man from Watford won his first 22 professional heavyweight contests, with victories over the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin.
His first defeat came in June 2019, when he suffered a shock TKO to Andy Ruiz Jnr but Joshua - who is 33/1 to be named 2023 Sports Personality of the Year - won the rematch on points six months later.
He followed that win up with a victory over Pulev in December 2020 before suffering his two losses to current champion Usyk.
Franklin will go into this encounter with a 21-1 record, with his only defeat coming in his last fight in November 2022.
The man from Michigan was beaten on points by Whyte at Wembley Arena, in what was his first fight outside of America.
Britain’s Whyte was the first fighter inside the world’s top-15 heavyweights that Franklin has faced during his career.
The American’s last victory came against his fellow countryman Rodney Moore, with the 29-year-old claiming a TKO in May 2022.
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