Anthony Joshua return date revealed as Jermaine Franklin fight looms in London

Anthony Joshua will make his return to the ring at London’s O2 Arena on April 1.

The former world heavyweight champion is expected to face American Jermaine Franklin as he begins on the comeback trail from two chastening losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

The official details of his opponent will be announced next week but Franklin, who lost his last fight to Dillian Whyte, has long been mooted as the next bout.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “It’s a really tough fight with loads of pressure to come back because, if AJ doesn’t win this fight, then we’ve got a major problem.

“I believe you’ll see a statement from a guy who is very dangerous, very motivated to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.”

Joshua first lost his heavyweight belts to Andy Ruiz Jr in a shock defeat in New York in 2019 before being outboxed by Usyk in both of their encounters in London and Saudi Arabia in 2021 and 2022.

The Franklin fight is very much a stepping stone as Joshua attempts to get back to the pinnacle of heavyweight boxing. And Hearn was previously quick to defend the calibre of opponent when initial talks were held with Franklin’s promoters.

Hearn told the BBC: “There’s so much contradiction, ‘Anthony Joshua is finished, mentally he’s shot but he’ll knock out Jermaine Franklin inside three rounds’.

“I’m telling you now, this guy [Johsua] is still a top-three heavyweight capable of regaining his world title.”