Anthony Joshua has been labelled a "flat track bully" ahead of his heavyweight return fight against Jermaine Franklin.
British heavyweight Joshua is set to return for the first time since losing in a sequel with Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia last August, when he takes on Jermaine Franklin on April 1 at London's O2 arena. It has been a tough couple of years for Joshua who has fallen to two defeats against the Ukrainian, but has linked up with new trainer Derrick James as he searches for a revival in his heavyweight career.
Joshua is widely regarded as an elite-level fighter despite falling to defeat, with many suggesting he needs to recover his more aggressive power-punching traits that saw him rise to the top of the sport. And radio host Simon Jordan has suggested he should next look to face British rivals Daniel Dubois or Joe Joyce.
He said in a conversation with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn on talkSPORT: "I do think lots of Anthony Joshua, I do think he's a flat-track bully and I do think he's gotten found out.I don't regard him in the same way as Eddie does because he's not a cash-cow for me but I do respect his achievements.
"But I do think he's absolutely right that Jermaine Franklin is the right fight for him to take now. But there on afterwards he won't be able to fight Tyson Fury or Oleksandr Usyk because they are tied up and I'd like to see him in with Daniel Dubois or Joe Joyce because they are ranked higher than him. Wouldn't you take those fights?"
Hearn then responded to the claims, adding: "I don't think the Dubois fight, I think Joyce is the guy. I think Dubois is miles away in terms of the heavyweight division of the elite guys but I think Joyce is right in there. Those guys have sparred thousands of rounds, it's brilliant to watch. "Honestly if you asked AJ about fighting Joyce, no problem at all."
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Joshua showed signs of improvement in his rematch with Usyk, but he will be hoping to pick up a big KO victory against Franklin to breathe new life into his time in heavyweight ranks. There would then be a number of potential fights in the pipeline, which could include a mega-fight with Deontay Wilder.
And the Bronze Bomber's trainer Malik Scott has suggested he will be knocked out in three rounds if the pair do touch gloves. "Hopefully, we'll have to see but I want them to fight," Scott said "If AJ wants to fight we're available every time, if he doesn't then we'll move on to, you could say not bigger fights, but better fights.
"I wouldn't put AJ at the top of the list but you still have to give him credit in the top three to five in the heavyweight division. He has a huge market, he's a good fighter, nobody puts punches together like Anthony Joshua. But I believe Deontay Wilder knocks him out in three rounds."
