Anthony Joshua wants to break the bank on his comeback: “I want to put on a show and impress”

DAZN, the leading global sports streaming platform, today announced that Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin they will face the next April 1 at the O2 Arena in London. After his defeating Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022, the British boxer returns to the ring with the aim of regaining his title of world heavyweight champion. The fight will be broadcast live and exclusively worldwide through the platform and will be the first of Joshua’s five-year deal with DAZN.

Anthony Joshua said: “I can’t wait to get back in the ring on April 1 at the O2 Arena in London. I feel mentally and physically ready. I want to put on a show and impress my coach, whose standards are very high. Franklin has a great style and a great attitude, as he has shown in his last few fights. This will be my first match broadcast on DAZN in the UK and will be available worldwide on the platform. I want to thank DAZN for supporting me and the sport of boxing as a whole. I would also like to thank the team at 258 and Matchroom Boxing.”

His rival, the American Jermaine Franklin, stated: “I’m ready to show the world why it’s time for me to take my place at the top of the heavyweight division. Joshua had a moment. It’s my time to surprise the world. I will have my 22nd victory on April 1st. This is not an April Fools joke.”

eddie hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, said: “Matchroom and DAZN have had an amazing year for boxing fans around the world, and this is just the beginning. The UK’s biggest boxing star, Anthony Joshua, will return on April 1, looking to reclaim his spot as the number one heavyweight. ‘AJ’ is reset and refocused and wants to challenge the naysayers as he embarks on his exciting new partnership with DAZN.”

“callum smith one step away from facing the unified light heavyweight monarch, Artur Beterbievand cannot stumble against Pavel Stepien on his return to Liverpool on March 11; the youngest boxing world champion, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguezwill try to make more history on April 8 when he goes for gold in the 112 pound bout Cristian González, ‘The Welsh Magician‘. On April 22 in Cardiff, Joe Cordina will attempt to regain his IBF super featherweight world title against Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov and on March 18 in Newcastle, the youngsters aim to impress at our first NXTGEN event of the year, not to mention the Leigh Wood against Mauricio Lara in just two weeks in Nottingham. It is without a doubt the best calendar in boxing and still has a long way to go,” added Hearn.

Joseph Markowski, CEO North America of DAZN Group, pointed out: “We have worked with Anthony Joshua for 5 years and we are incredibly excited to begin our new relationship with him in the UK on April 1. Standing ringside at the Taylor vs. Serrano matchup in a sold- out Madison Square Garden was one of the best sporting moments of my life; amazing atmosphere and fight. Along with this blockbuster, the show we put together today features some of our best talent, Jesse Rodriguez, Callum Smith, and Joe Cordina. All live and exclusive on DAZN”.

Freddie Cunningham, CEO of 258 Managementhas highlighted: “This is the start of a very important phase for ‘AJ’ and it is exciting to start exclusively on DAZN and at the O2 Arena in London, a place where he has lived many unforgettable nights.”