“Тhis is probably the most serious time I’ve taken it,” says Joshua

British heavyweight Anthony Joshua, who prepares to fight Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London on 1 April, says he is probably going through the most serious time of his career.

A toast to all the hustlers and most importantly, you. The customers 🤝 pic.twitter.com/d1bf6lzPKm

— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) February 9, 2023

“Throughout my career, this is probably the most serious time I’ve taken it.”

The Watford fighter appointed new coach Derrick James as his new head coach ahead of his comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin on April 1.

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Joshua fights at the O2 Arena for the first time since 2016, and the first time in eight years he will not be fighting for a world title.

Since his last bout at the O2, where he has fought seven times, Joshua has had the majority of his bouts at major outdoor stadiums.

American Franklin, 29, is the clear underdog, just as he was when he lost to Dillian Whyte on points last Desember.

But two demoralising defeats by Usyk have left Joshua at a crossroads in his career.

“Everything I’ve been through – positive, negative – I’m using it to fuel my camp now,” he said.

A win over Franklin may tell us nothing new about a fighter who almost single-handedly ushered in a modern era of interest for British boxing, but it may give a clue as to whether the old Joshua, the once unstoppable freight train, can return.