Anthony Joshua will take to the ring tonight to begin a new chapter in his career, with Jermaine Franklin his opponent as he fights at London's O2 Arena for the first time since 2016.
It is also his first time not fighting for a world title in the same period, with his first world title win coming at the same venue in 2016 as he beat Charles Martin to claim the IBF world heavyweight crown. He went on to claim the WBA (Super), WBO and IBO belts before his first ever loss, to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019.
Joshua went on the avenge that defeat, but successive losses to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk have left him having to rebuild his reputation in the heavyweight ranks. He will, however, embark on a fresh chapter this weekend with a new trainer in his corner in the form of Derrick James.
