Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs), says his opponent for the first of April of 2023 would be revealed the following week and hints that it might be Jermaine Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs).
Hearn listed four potential opponents for AJ, ruled out three of them, and left just Franklin, who had recently won a controversial 12-round decision over Dillian Whyte at the Wembley Arena in London on November 26 of 2022.
Since Hearn doesn't want to put Joshua up against a southpaw in his next match, Otto Wallin and Demsey McKean are effectively eliminated from the four competitors. At the same time, the IBF has ordered Filip Hrgovic, a fighter Hearn would like to match against Joshua, to face Andy Ruiz in a title eliminator next.
“When you look at the future for Anthony Joshua, the future revolves around Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Dillian Whyte. They’re three orthodox fighters. It is likely that he will face an orthodox fighter next.”
“I think Jermaine Franklin is a great fighter. People say, “It’s definitely Jermaine Franklin.” Nothing is signed and agreed with, but Jermaine Franklin is coming off a fight where it was a very close fight with Dillian Whyte. Some people felt he won that bout,” said Hearn.
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