Eddie Hearn has revealed the three options for Anthony Joshua’s next fight should be beat Jermaine Franklin.
Following two consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, losing his unified heavyweight titles in the process, ‘AJ’ is in build back mode and will re-start his campaign against Franklin on April 1 in London.
Should he win as expected, his promoter has big plans. Hearn revealed to TalkSPORT that he’ll aim to face one of three names.
“Joshua has three options if he beats Franklin – Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte.
And people say, ‘you throw Dillian Whyte in there because that’s the one that’s going to happen’, I mean that’s the easiest fight to make and I don’t think there is any disgrace, after the Usyk fights, going Franklin, Dillian Whyte, Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder. That’s a hell of a 2023.”
A fight with Deontay Wilder was attempted years ago, when both fighters held all four major belts between them. Wilder choose to face a returning Tyson Fury instead, and ultimately lost his belt to him over the course of three fights.
The American’s team have recently said that they are open to the ‘AJ’ talks immediately, although fans will be forgiven for being pessimistic about whether or not the previous disputes and bad blood can be rectified.
As for WBC Champion, Fury, the pair came close to an out-of-the-blue fight last year. Things fell apart, and it’s unclear how Joshua now factors into ‘The Gypsy King’s plans. For now, he’s moving towards an undisputed fight with Usyk.
Of the three, Whyte is the most likely for a few reasons. Firstly, despite there being no longterm deal, he’s been represented by Hearn for most of his career.
That will go a long way compared to the tense relationships the promoter has with both Fury and Wilder, and would have enough heat in the build up to justify a big event.
The pair fought back in 2015, with ‘AJ’ coming out on top via seventh round stoppage, and an attempt to avenge is something Whyte has said he holds in as high regard as a title shot.
It’s by no means signed though, and ‘The Bodysnatcher’ wasn’t happy when it was announced Joshua was facing Franklin – the man he had beat in November of last year.
All rests on the result and the fashion in which its obtained against Franklin. Joshua – under the coaching of new trainer, Derrick James – should make a statement to convince his fans that he’s on his way to the top once more.