Eddie Hearn Explains Why Anthony Joshua’s Team Decided To Pick Jermaine Franklin As His Next Opponent

Eddie Hearn has opened up on why Anthony Joshua has decided to pick Jermaine Franklin as his next opponent.

Joshua is coming off back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk for the heavyweight titles and is now set to return on April 1 against Franklin. Many were surprised by the opponents but according to Hearn, Joshua’s team wanted to face an orthodox fighter next.

“We had a lot of fighters in the mix,” Hearn said in a video posted on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel. “Demsey McKean, Otto Wallin, really it came down to style. AJ is coming off the back of two fights against a southpaw, the best southpaw in boxing in Oleksandr Usyk, and wanted an orthodox fighter.”

Along with making his return on April 1, Anthony Joshua will also have a new trainer as he is working with Derrick James, who trains Errol Spence Jr. and Jermell Charlo. With that, Hearn expects Joshua to be much better.

“The training team really sort of looked at it, ‘We’re going to go and fight Wilder, Dillian Whyte, Tyson Fury, there’s no point in going back and fighting a southpaw,” Hearn said. “So we want you to showcase everything you’re working on with us and we feel like you should be doing that against an orthodox fighter.’”

Ultimately, Eddie Hearn knows Jermaine Franklin will be a tough out for Joshua, but he is looking forward to the matchup. He also expects the fight to translate well to the fans after seeing what Franklin did against Dillian Whyte.

“Obviously, the fight that Jermaine had with Dillian Whyte was a great marker for us to see where we’re at,” Hearn said. “We know he’s a world-class heavyweight, there’s no disputing that. And he got the nod. He’s relevant, he’s been active after the Dillian Whyte fight, UK fans know who he is, and he’s a talented fighter.”

Are you surprised Anthony Joshua is fighting Jermaine Franklin?