Via Craig Daly: Jermaine Franklin looks set to be Anthony Joshua’s next opponent in his prep match on April 1 at London’s O2 Arena, but the deal “isn’t done yet,” said Eddie Hearn. Boxing matchmaking room.
Hearn says he’s recommended three other strong contenders for the AJ fight, and he’s just waiting for them. However, Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) is the only one he’s currently talking to and he seems excited about the possibility of Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) mixing it with him.
Franklin, 29, lost his final bout to Dillian Whyte on November 26 in London, but many boxing fans consider it a home-cooked classic in which the foreign boxer is knocked down against the hometown boy, who needed a win to continue his hunt for a rematch with Joshua.
“Yes, I think there’s a very good chance it could be Jermaine Franklin,” Eddie Hearn said iFL TV Who will Anthony Joshua fight next on April 1st.
“Jermaine Franklin fought fiercely with Dillian Whyte. I think it’s a very dangerous fight to come back,” Hearn continued about Joshua’s next bout. “People have a balanced opinion if you read the comments, ‘It’s a pretty dangerous fight for you to go back to.’
“Others just wanted to hate, ‘What a joke. He lost to Dillian Whyte.’ Please wait a minute. A few months ago, you felt he beat Dillian Whyte four rounds. So that’s one of it?” Hearn talked about how Franklin beat Whyte last November in the eyes of many boxing fans.
“It is a style that is sometimes difficult for a heavier fighter. A smaller heavyweight with fast arms and a nice chin, it’s a really good fight. It is not done; it is not signed.
“We have now made offers for three heavyweights. There’s the whole south thing. We don’t turn our backs on a southern boxer, but of course a new trainer would prefer a more mainstream fighter, especially when you’re watching [orthodox fighters] Tyson Fury, Dilian Whyte, Deontay Wilder are potential opponents. Why fight another Southpaw? I have not ruled it out.
“But we are almost ready to go. We want the show to be announced and ticket sales. We want to build a big event at O2 for AJ’s comeback there. All the fighters we have provided are good battles [for Joshua] to comeback.
“I want Fabio Wardley to be part of that card. I feel like the British heavyweight at O2 on the AJ card would make perfect sense for his development before he takes the throne. You’ve got Felix Cash for Europeans on that card. It will be a big game, an epic night of boxing and almost ready. I hate to say this week. This week,” Hearn said of Joshua’s fight against Franklin.
