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By Peter Akinbo.
Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua has admitted he didn’t train enough for Oleksandr Usyk when he faced him in a title rematch in August last year.
The British-Nigerian was ultimately unsuccessful in his attempt to reclaim his unified heavyweight crown back from the Ukranian, who outpointed him in a similar fashion to their first meeting in 2021.
Joshua has now confirmed that he is taking his preparation for Jermaine Franklin even more seriously than he did for his Usyk rematch last year and how he now realises his training for Usyk simply wasn’t enough.
“I have to take Jermaine Franklin more seriously than I did Usyk. Not that I’m comparing the two, but I now know better,” he told DAZN Boxing Show.
“How I trained (for Usyk), it wasn’t enough. I have to put more pressure on myself in order to perform better. As long as I’m fighting, I’m going to have a level of self-expectation to improve as a fighter.”
The Franklin fight is seen as make or break for Joshua, with many pundits of the belief that defeat would spell the end to any aspirations of becoming a three-time heavyweight world champion.
It will be the British-Nigerian’s first outing under new trainer Derrick James, and many fans are hopeful the link up could bring a return of success that has trailed Joshua throughout in his career.
A familiar face to UK fans after his impressive showing against Dillian Whyte last November, Franklin has always maintained he was hard done by that night and will have all the confidence of upsetting Joshua at the 02 Arena on April 1st.
A rematch for Joshua against Whyte looks set for the summer, provided he gets past Franklin in April.
