Joshua shows off training physique ahead of Franklin bout
In shape for a comeback! Anthony Joshua shows off training physique ahead of his bout with Jermaine Franklin as he bids to bounce back from Oleksandr Usyk defeats and get his career back on track
- Anthony Joshua returns to the ring this weekend as he fights Jermaine Franklin
- Joshua is fighting under new trainer Derrick James for the first time
- The 33-year-old clearly put in the work at his training camp in Dallas, Texas
Anthony Joshua has long had one of the most impressive physiques in the heavyweight division and the Brit is looking in as good a shape as ever ahead of his fight with Jermaine Franklin.
Joshua makes his return to the ring on Saturday night as he takes on American Franklin at the O2 Arena in London.
He is looking to bounce back following his crushing pair of defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, with his last victory – against Kubrat Pulev in 2020 – now over two years ago.
It will be Joshua’s first fight since leaving coach Robert Garcia and appointing new trainer Derrick James, now promising to bring a better version of himself with the fight branded ‘new dawn’ on the official poster.
And he certainly looks like he is ready to put on a statement performance.
Anthony Joshua is looking in great shape ahead of his fight in London on Saturday night
The 33-year-old has posted a number of training pictures over the past few weeks and it’s clear that he has been putting in the work in the lead up to the bout.
There is a tremendous amount of pressure on AJ heading into the fight – with many calling for him to hang up his gloves if he is beaten by Franklin.
Joshua flew out to Texas to train under his new coach James after parting ways with Robert Garcia following his second successive loss to Usyk.
Eddie Hearn says that the camp in Dallas as ‘humbling’ and insisted the ‘stripped back lifestyle’ would lead to success.
Hearn said: ‘This camp have been very different to his others. They are chalk and cheese. At the EIS [England Institute of Sport] he’s God really.
The former heavyweight champion clearly put in the work at his training camp in Dallas, Texas
‘He’s an Olympic gold medalist and he’s changed the face of British boxing and they roll out the red carpet every day for him at training.
‘He didn’t want that but it just became the way. This camp was very different. It was very humble house. He only had a couple of friends there and guys in camp.
‘Then he was just with Derrick James. One sole trainer. He was in a very humble gym. A very small gym. He was just 1-on-1 with last year’s trainer of the year.’
The Brit is under huge pressure with many saying he should retire if he suffers defeat
Meanwhile, James went on to speak about Joshua’s training camp, saying: ‘I think it’s been great.
‘Just the work ethic really has been great. I think that’s one of the key things. How hard we’ve been working in the gym. How hard we have been pushing in the gym.’
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