Anthony Joshua on Jermaine Franklin: “I’m not going to lose” this Saturday

By Boxing News - 03/27/2023 - Comments

By Charles Brun: Anthony Joshua insists he won’t lose to Jermaine Franklin next Saturday night on April 1st, in his comeback fight on DAZN at the O2 Arena in London, England.

This is Joshua’s first fight under the tutelage of new trainer Derrick James, and it could be his last. If AJ loses to Franklin, Derrick will likely be quietly shown the door, and a search for a new trainer will be underway.

Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) laughs at the people who see his career being on the line because he doesn’t view it that way.

That is to say, Joshua won’t retire if he gets beaten by Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs), which should make his promoter Eddie Hearn pleased because he freely admits that he’s worried about this fight.

Franklin should be unbeaten after getting robbed last November in London in schooling the shot Dillian Whyte for 12 rounds.

The way Franklin looked in that fight, it’s not hard to imagine him doing a number on Joshua, beating him as badly as Andy Ruiz Jr did and/or Oleksandr Usyk did.

AJ-Franklin undercard:

  • Matteo Signani vs. Felix Cash
  • Craig Richards vs. Ricards Bolotniks
  • Fabio Wardley vs. Michael Coffie
  • Austin Williams vs. River Wilson-Bent
  • Campbell Hatton vs. Lous Fielding
  • Jordan Flynn vs. Kane Baker
  • John Hedges vs. Daniel Bocianski

“Here we have my next opponent Jermaine Franklin, who I’ll be facing April 1st. I think it’s good that he’s getting an opportunity because every fighter deserves an opportunity,” said Anthony Joshua to DAZN Boxing about his fight next Saturday night in London, England, against Jermaine Franklin.

“I don’t look at him like he’s a comeback fight for AJ. I think that’s what the media and the narrative that has been created around his next, but I don’t think he’s looking at himself as a comeback fighter.

“I think he’s looking at himself as real contender. Someone that has been doing this since he was 11 years old. So I don’t think he sees himself as a comeback fight for everyone. I respect him, and I have to take him seriously, and he’ll be game.

“I hope I’m victorious on April 1st because apparently, if I lose against him, my career is done, and that means no one will let me fight by the sound of things.  So all these narratives that they create.

“I just need to make sure I live in my own realms. This is a serious fighter. He’s not a comeback fight, and I’m not going to lose. So there is no IF. I’ve got to stay focused on winning,” said Joshua.

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