Simon Jordan has had some choice words for Anthony Joshua in a recent interview, describing the former unified world champion as a “flat track bully,” as well as stating that he is “done” should he fail to stop Jermaine Franklin.
Joshua’s comeback bout against Franklin on April 1st was officially announced on Monday, alongside the wider DAZN schedule for the first part of 2023.
And speaking on Talksport, Jordan did not hold back in his assessment of Joshua as a fighter and his future should he struggle against the ‘989 Assassin.’
“If he doesn’t go through Jermaine Franklin, he’s done anyway.”
Jordan went on to say that Joshua only looks good against lesser opponents:
“I’ve always felt he was a flat track bully. When it’s put on him, I think he struggles. But I do want to see him back in the ring and ram it down people’s throats, like mine.”
Franklin was edged out by former Joshua foe Dillian Whyte back in November at Wembley Arena, where many felt he acquitted himself well and perhaps was hard done by not to get the decision.
However, ‘AJ’ will go into the contest as a firm favourite, and most in the industry are backing him to make relatively easy work of the American.
It will be Joshua’s first run out under new coach Derrick James, whom many hope will be the man to bring back the aggression the Brit showed in the early phase of his career.
Joshua relocated to Texas, USA to train at James’ gym, which boasts the likes of Jermell Charlo and Errol Spence Jr.
Should he come through Franklin this spring, a rematch with Whyte is expected to take place this summer at a stadium in the UK.
The pair locked horns in an epic British title fight back in 2015, when Joshua stopped ‘The Bodysnatcher’ in the sixth round.