Anthony Joshua’s ‘main motivation for fighting Jermaine Franklin is money’

As if it were the Titanic rising from the deep, Anthony Joshua resurfaced into English sunshine.

AJ had been missing from public sight for six months since that second numbing defeat by ‘little’ Oleksandr Usyk consigned him to the depression of boxing life after titles.

He flew in from his bolt-hole in Texas and reappeared in a hotel near Heathrow airport to confirm his comeback fight.

That will take place not in a football stadium, but in his old slugging ground at the 02 Arena, where he first became a world heavyweight champion.

That seems appropriate. But the date – April Fools Day – not so much.

Anthony Joshua will face American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin at the 02 Arena in April

AJ’s (left) return is highly-anticipated, while Franklin (right) is coming into the fight off the first loss of his career to Dillian Whyte

They attended their first press conference (pictured above) in London on Thursday evening

Since Joshua gave us all such a thrilling ride from Olympic gold to all those alpha-belts, let us cross our fingers in hope that is an omen not for him but for the opponent. 

Jermaine Franklin was unknown outside America until he came to London a few months ago, fought AJ’s old rival Dillian Whyte and went home convinced he had been robbed of victory by a home-town decision.

Now, to the loser that night, the spoils. Namely the richest purse of his young life.

When the name Franklin came up again, the fight game’s first reaction was to shrug its shoulders.

Joshua is now at pains to dispel the illusion that this fight will be a cake-walk back into the championship limelight.

‘He’s a very good fighter,’ said AJ. ‘I respect him to the extent that I’ve buried myself in Dallas all this time. I’ve taken myself away from all distractions. 

‘Away from my businesses even though I admit that money is my main motivation for fighting on because I never want to go back to the hard life I came from. Being broke and down and out. Not me, not any of my family. After all is said and done this is prize-fighting.

‘But to make sure of that, to have the will to win again, I knew I had to put my heart back into the ring as well as my mind.’

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 

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

He turned up with his latest guru – America’s trainer of last year Derrick James is the third in about as much time as Britain has had as many Prime Ministers – in tow.

James credits Joshua with ‘the boxing intelligence’ to learn and adapt rapidly.

Even so, they have devoted every waking minute in Dallas to the recovery mission at hand. Says Joshua: ‘I haven’t been out to the Mall in Texas. Not for a coffee. Not to the cinema. It’s been just been spar, train, eat, talk and sleep boxing. I haven’t seen one bit of the city.’

He makes the return flight to the US on Saturday, thinking: ‘This is the way it still has to be if I am to get back to winning titles.’

That and some changes to his ring demeanour. He says of the 02: ‘That has been my lion’s den, the jungle where I was roared to so many victories. I was all about power, punching, aggression. 

‘Now I’ve learned that as you get older and want to establish your legacy through longevity it has to be about hitting and not being hit.’

The second step on the return to glory is expected to be a second war with Whyte, perhaps in Wembley or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this summer.

Assuming of course that he sees off the also-smaller Franklin. Even so he denies there is any psychological strain coming his way on April 1, saying: ‘Stress is not being able to pay the family’s household bills. Stress is being buried under that earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Not in making that ring-walk.’

AJ is still charming, as courteous as ever, seemingly still relaxed. Although there does look to be a body change. Leaner, less muscle.

But there are still a couple of months to go before we see, on comeback night, the real Anthony Joshua. Be it the AJ we know or a new, ship-shape reality.

Joshua v Franklin will be televised live on DAZN, by subscription, on Saturday April 1.