ANTHONY JOSHUA will bid to return to the win column in a must-win showdown with rising heavyweight Jermaine Franklin.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champ will throw down with the American at the O2 Arena on April 1.
Anthony Joshua will throw down with Jermaine Franklin on April 1
Joshua needs a victory after two defeats to Oleksandr UsykGETTY
SUNSPORT
Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
AJ will look to start rebuilding his career with a win over the Michigan mauler following back-to-back defeats to pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
Defeat would be curtains for Joshua’s hopes of challenging for a world title again – making his return to the O2 a must-win affair.
So with that in mind, SunSport thought it’d only be right to break down the dust-up.
Age
Father Time is on the side of Franklin, who is on the right side of thirty at 29.
Watford warrior Joshua is nearly four years Franklin’s senior at 33 – although he’ll turn 34 in October.
Experience
AJ has the edge over Franklin when it comes to experience as he turned pro two years earlier than his upcoming foe.
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The golden boy of British boxing has had 27 professional bouts since winning gold at London 2012 – coming out victorious 24 times.
Franklin, who turned pro in April 2015, has taken to the ring 22 times as a professional.
Physical
Joshua will have a height and reach advantage over Franklin, standing at 6’6 in comparison to the 6’2 ‘989 Assassin’.
AJ’s reach is 82 inches, while Franklin’s arms extend out 77 inches.
Franklin will likely be heavier on fight night – despite being the smaller man.
Musclebound Joshua tipped the scales at 17 stone and one pound for his Saudi showdown with Usyk last August.
Franklin weighed in at a mammoth 18 stone, three pounds for his closely-contested clash with Dillian Whyte last year.
Form
Joshua is currently on the worst run of his title-filled career thanks to his back-to-back defeats to Usyk, who is gearing up for an undisputed showdown with Tyson Fury.
Franklin, meanwhile, suffered the first loss of his professional career – albeit a controversial one – to Whyte last November.
Prior to that, he was riding a 21-fight win streak – which included 14 knockout victories.