Eddie Hearn admits Joshua’s world title ambitions will be ‘in tatters’ if he loses to Franklin

Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua’s world title ambitions will be ‘in tatters’ if he loses to Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night. 

Joshua will return to the ring in his first bout since last year’s rematch defeat by Oleksandr Usyk.

Hearn says there is a tremendous 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’ on 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 on this fight. 

Hearn says Anthony Joshua’s world title ambitions will be in tatters if he loses on Saturday

Hearn says there is a tremendous amount of pressure on AJ’s shoulder heading into the fight

‘You’ve got Jermaine Franklin here, who is about 28 pounds lighter than he was against Dillian Whyte fight. 

‘He’s now got a six pack and this is what happens when you’re fighting Anthony Joshua. It’s a chance for him [Franklin] to catapult himself in the world of the heavyweight division. 

‘For AJ, there is bundles 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 must win fight. 

‘I want to see the destructive Anthony Joshua that we all love to watch. But, Franklin is going to put up a tough 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 recognises the pressure on him. He told Sportsmail: He’s always calm but I think, underneath, 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 there is a lot on the line on Saturday.’

Hearn is confident AJ can emerge victorious from the fight on Saturday but says people will still find a way to criticise the British heavyweight boxer.

He said: ‘If AJ beats Jermaine Franklin in style people will moan and say that was an easy fight. If he struggles people will say he’s not the fighter he was. If he loses, that’ll 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 unbelievable. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion. He’s an Olympic gold medalist. What more can you do.’ 

Hearn went on to add: ‘I just think with AJ, he is a very intelligent guy. When he believes in the game plan and the preparation, he’s very difficult to beat. 

‘I don’t think he could have done anymore. He has the confidence to execute the game-plan against Jermaine Franklin. Hopefully we will see a destructive performance.’

 Hearn went on to discuss Joshua’s training camp in the build-up to the Franklin fight – claiming it’s like nothing he’s done before. 

Joshua flew out to Texas to train under his new coach Derrick James after parting ways with Robert Garcia following his second defeat by Usyk. 

Hearn said Joshua was treated like a god when he was training in the UK and described his camp in Dallas as ‘humbling’.  

Hearn told Sportsmail: ‘This camp have been very different to his others. They are chalk and cheese. At the EIS [England Institute of Sport] he’s God really. 

‘He’s an Olympic gold medalist and he’s changed the face of British boxing and they roll out the red carpet every day for him at training. 

‘He didn’t want that but it just became the way. This camp was very different. It was very humble house. He only had a couple of friends there and guys in camp. 

‘Then he was just with Derrick James. One sole trainer. He was in a very humble gym. A very small gym. He was just 1-on-1 with last year’s trainer of the year. 

Hearn thinks Franklin will test Joshua as the American heavyweight is in the shape of his life

‘We hope he comes into this fight confident. We hope he can deliver a great performance.’

When pressed on his predictions for Saturday’s fight, Hearn said: ‘I think we are going to see a great, sharp performance. We are going to see someone who is on point and is focused. 

‘I said to him in camp, you do realise when you let your hands go you put the fear of god into people. You are a big, strong, fast puncher. You’re a big heavyweight that can take people out. 

‘So, go in there and do a job on him.’