Joshua to announce opponent next week

Anthony Joshua, the two-time heavyweight champion, will name his comeback opponent next week, and promoter Eddie Hearn says he is close to finalizing negotiations for the British-April Nigerian's 1 return.

The 33-year-old has not fought since losing a rematch to Oleksandr Usyk in August, making it back-to-back losses to the Ukrainian after a loss in September 2021.

Joshua's most recent victory came almost two years ago when he defeated Kubrat Pulev.

And Hearn is looking for a big-name opponent to put Joshua back on track to face Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder.

There was discussion of a nasty fight against Filip Hrgovic, but he has been forced to face Andy Ruiz Jr in an IBF eliminator instead.

Meanwhile, Hearn has virtually ruled out Otto Wallin and Demsey McKean after stating Joshua does not want to fight another southpaw because it conflicts with his ambitions to fight other orthodox boxers.

That might left Jermaine Franklin as the guy to face Joshua on April Fool's Day, with the American wanting to revenge his loss to Joshua's adversary, Dillian Whyte, in November.

Fans, on the other hand, won't have to wait long to find out who the former champ will face next, as Hearn is now finalizing negotiations with the intention of confirming the bout next week.

"(Franklin) is unquestionably in the running. Demsey McKean is still in the running, according to Boxing Social.

"The association with a new trainer implies that a southpaw fighter, even though Joshua has only boxed one of them twice, is not ideal.

When it comes to Anthony Joshua's future, everything hinges around Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, and Dillian Whyte. They are three traditional combatants. He will very certainly meet an orthodox boxer next.

"I believe Jermaine Franklin is a fantastic boxer. 'It's obviously Franklin,' people remark. Nothing has been signed or agreed upon. But Franklin is coming off a battle with Whyte that was really close. Some thought he had won the fight."

A summer rematch with Whyte is expected for the former unified world champion, should he successfully completes his comeback fight this spring.