EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Hearn admits Anthony Joshua’s world title ambitions will be ‘in tatters’ if he loses to Jermaine Franklin… but reveals how AJ’s ‘humble training camp’ has prepared him to ‘do a job’ in the American
- Anthony Joshua will face Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena on Saturday
- Eddie Hearn says Joshua’s world title ambitions will be shattered if he loses
- Hearn has also opened up about Joshua’s ‘humiliating’ training camp in Texas
Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua’s world title ambitions will be shattered if he loses to Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night.
Joshua will face Franklin at the O2 Arena on Saturday night in his first fight since last year’s rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Hearn says there is an enormous amount of pressure on AJ’s shoulder heading into the fight and admits the 33-year-old’s “world will end” if he loses.
However, the Matchroom promoter is confident that AJ’s ‘humble’ training camp has prepared him to ‘do a job’ with the American heavyweight.
Speaking to Sportsmail about the fight on Saturday night, Hearn said: ‘We hope to see a new and improved Anthony Joshua. There is a lot of pressure in this fight.
Hearn says Anthony Joshua’s world title ambitions will be in tatters if he loses on Saturday
Hearn says there’s tremendous pressure on AJ’s shoulder leading up to the fight.
‘You’ve got Jermaine Franklin here, who is about 28 pounds lighter than he was in the Dillian Whyte fight.
Now he’s got a six pack and this is what happens when you’re fighting Anthony Joshua. is an opportunity for him [Franklin] to catapult himself into the world of the heavyweight division.
‘For AJ, there is a lot of pressure. He’s back at the O2. He hasn’t boxed there for seven years. It’s where it all started for his debut and it’s a fight he must win.
“I want to see the destructive Anthony Joshua that we all love to see. But, Franklin is going to perform a difficult task.’
Hearn went on to discuss how Joshua’s ‘world would end’ if he lost to the American heavyweight on Saturday night.
The Matchroom promoter said Joshua is calm but acknowledges the pressure on him. He told Sportsmail: He’s always calm but I think deep down he knows the pressure.
‘People talk about whether his career is over if he loses this fight. Well, his world title ambitions are in tatters if he loses this fight and that’s what’s important to him.
Defeat would be devastating. So for that reason, I think he tries to distance himself and say it’s just another fight, but we all know the stakes are high on Saturday.
Hearn is confident AJ can emerge victorious from Saturday’s fight, but says people will still find a way to criticize the British heavyweight boxer.
He said: If AJ beats Jermaine Franklin in style, people will complain and say it was an easy fight. If he fights, people will say that he is not the fighter that he was. If he loses, it will be the end of his world.
You can’t worry too much about what people say. You just have to believe in yourself and his resume is amazing. He is a two time heavyweight champion of the world. He is an Olympic gold medalist. What else can you do.’
Hearn added: “I think with AJ, he’s a very smart guy. When he believes in the game plan and preparation, he’s very hard to beat.
‘I couldn’t have done more. He has the confidence to execute the game plan against Jermaine Franklin. Let’s hope we see a destructive performance.
Hearn went on to discuss Joshua’s training camp in preparation for the Franklin fight, claiming it’s unlike anything he’s done before.
Joshua flew to Texas to train under his new trainer Derrick James after parting ways with Robert Garcia following his second loss to Usyk.
Hearn said Joshua was treated like a god when training in the UK and described their camp in Dallas as “humiliating”.
Hearn told Sportsmail: ‘This camp has been very different from the others. They are chalk and cheese. in the EIA [England Institute of Sport] he is really God.
“He’s an Olympic gold medalist and he’s changed the face of British boxing and they roll out the red carpet for him every day in training.”
‘He didn’t want that, but it just became the way. This camp was very different. It was a very humble house. I only had a couple of friends there and guys at camp.
‘Then I was only with Derek James. One trainer. He was in a very humble gym. A very small gym. He was just 1-1 with last year’s coach of the year.
Hearn believes Franklin will test Joshua as the American heavyweight is in the shape of his life.
‘We expect him to come into this fight confident. We hope he can deliver a great performance.’
When asked about his predictions for Saturday’s fight, Hearn said: ‘I think we’re going to see a great performance. Let’s see someone who is on point and focused.
‘I told him in the camp, you realize that when you let go of your hands you put the fear of God in people. You are a big, strong and fast puncher. You’re a great heavyweight who can take people out.
‘So, go over there and do a job with him.’