The former world champion in super-heavyweight, the British 

 has officially received his next opponent.

He will be the American Jermaine Franklin.

The match will take place on April 1 at the O2 arena in London.

The new dawn of @anthonyjoshua begins vs.

@JermaineFrankl6, April 1.

Watch LIVE on https://t.co/FoiaUucafv as part of your monthly subscription.

#JoshuaFranklin pic.twitter.com/KyfArpJxqM

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) February 6, 2023

For AJ, this will be the first fight after two consecutive defeats against Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.

Last August, Joshua 

 Usyk in a rematch and failed to regain the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts, which he lost in the first fight with the Ukrainian in September 2021.

33-year-old Joshua has 24 wins (22 by knockout) and three losses.

AJ lost for the first time in June 2019 to Andy Ruiz, but in December of the same year he defeated the Mexican in a rematch and regained the titles.

As for 29-year-old Franklin, he has 21 wins (14 by knockout) and one loss.

In his last fight, in November last year, the American lost to the British Dillian White by decision of the judges.

It will be recalled that after the defeat by Usyk in the rematch, Joshua negotiated a fight with the WBC title holder Tyson Fury, but the parties did not agree.

It is expected that in April, Usyk and Fury will fight for the title of absolute world champion in super heavyweight.

Read also:

Usyk - Fury: the promoter of the British named the new date of the fight for the title of absolute world champion

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