My heart’s fully back into boxing – Joshua

Anthony Joshua, the former Heavyweight champion of the world says he has put his heart back in boxing as he prepares to face Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London on 1 April.

The Briton, 33, looks for his first win since 2020 after successive defeats by unified champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua said he was more serious than ever before about his boxing career.

“I’ve always tried to make an empire but I made a conscious decision last year to put my heart into boxing and nothing else,” he said.

Throughout my career, this is probably the most serious time I’ve taken it.”

Joshua, who has been fighting since he was 18, added that money and his skill at the sport are the main reasons he wants to keep boxing.

“I like making money, straight up,” he said without mincing words.

“This is a prize fight in sport, I’ve been broke, my family’s been broke and I know what this shit means.

“I do it because I’m good at it and I hustle hard and when it’s all said and done, no one would care about me no more so I’ve to make the most of it.”

A toast to all the hustlers and most importantly, you. The customers 🤝 pic.twitter.com/d1bf6lzPKm

— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) February 9, 2023

Joshua was joined by his new coach Derrick James, with both men flying from Texas to London to attend the news conference.

The two-time heavyweight world champion fights at the O2 Arena for the first time since 2016.

However, this is the first time in eight years he will not be fighting for a world title.

Since his last bout at the O2, where he has fought seven times, Joshua has had the majority of his bouts at major outdoor stadiums.

American Franklin, 29, is the clear underdog, just as he was when he lost to Dillian Whyte on points last December.

But two demoralising defeats by Usyk have left Joshua at a crossroads in his career.

“Everything I’ve been through – positive, negative – I’m using it to fuel my camp now,” he said.

BBC Sport