Anthony Joshua CONFIRMS that he will fight American Jermaine Franklin at the O2 in April

Anthony Joshua has confirmed that he will face American Jermaine Franklin at the 02 Arena in April.

The former world heavyweight champion will look to return to winning ways after suffering successive defeats to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk. 

Sportsmail exclusively revealed that the pair had agreed a deal for the bout, in which Joshua will look to add his first win to his professional record since he defeated Kubrat Pulev back in December 2020.

Joshua took to social media on Monday to confirm the fight, which will be broadcast on DAZN.

In the official fight poster he wrote ‘new dawn,’ appearing to promise that he will bring a better version of himself when he takes to the ring on April 1.  

Anthony Joshua (left) will face Jermaine Franklin (right) when he returns to the ring in April

Franklin holds an impressive 21-1 record, suffering the first defeat of his career to Dillian Whyte via a majority decision in November last year.

Earlier this week, Whyte hit out at the news that he wouldn’t get his rematch with Joshua, and the bout would instead go to the opponent he defeated.

He told the Sun: ‘I am all right but facing the usual b******s, I just want to make some fights but it’s f***ing frustrating.

‘Everyone was told, all the boxing fans, the winner of me and Franklin fights AJ, so this is a f***ed up thing.

‘I would have been better off losing the Franklin fight and getting the AJ fight!’

Franklin trained with Joshua’s British compatriot Tyson Fury to prepare for his loss to Whyte last year.

Joshua looked set to face Fury in December but negotiations between the two British boxers collapsed in October after the Gypsy King grew frustrated with how long AJ’s team were taking to sign the contract.

AJ was disappointed to see the deal fall through as they had made good progress – having agreed on the financial terms of the fight, splitting the purse 60/40 in the favour of the WBC champion.

The pair had also named the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as the chosen location and agreed on the TV rights – which were said to be stumbling block. However, it wasn’t meant to be. 

Joshua (right) suffered a second-straight defeat by Usyk (left) in August (above), having lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts to the Ukrainian in September 2021 

He will face Franklin (right) – who went toe-to-toe with Dillian Whyte (left) in November 2022

Franklin (left) trained alongside Fury (middle) ahead of his clash with Dillian Whyte

AJ was then linked to unbeaten Australian heavyweight Demsey McKean as the southpaw called for the fight after he won the IBF Intercontinental heavyweight belt last October. 

Franklin felt as though he had been ‘robbed’ against Whyte – with Michael Alexander scoring their bout level at 115-115 while Juergen Landos and Grzegorz Molenda scored the fight 116-112 in favour of Whyte. 

Joshua’s Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn promised his fighter would return with a vengeance after his two losses to Usyk.

Eddie Hearn (right) is adamant that Joshua will come back with a vengeance after two losses

‘The disrespect on this man’s name is unbelievable. The people that want to downplay his achievements in the sport,’ he said about AJ on DAZN.

‘You people who want to say he’s finished in the sport; get f***ing ready for the return of Anthony Joshua on April 1st.

‘This guy is out there in Texas. He’s working and grinding everyday. This guy has got money in the bank. He’s got world championship belts on the wall. He don’t care for either of them.

‘He cares for the sport of boxing. He cares for regaining the world heavyweight title.

‘I’m telling you, he’s coming back with a vengeance. Write him off at your peril.’