Eddie Hearn vows Anthony Joshua will make ‘statement’ in comeback fight with Jermaine Franklin

EDDIE HEARN insists Anthony Joshua will ‘make a statement’ in his high-stakes showdown with Jermaine Franklin.

AJ, 33, will be looking to reignite his career against the American at London’s O2 Arena in April in what will be his first game since consecutive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk.

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A loss to Franklin would likely banish the Watford warrior from the world title picture, but promoter Hearn is confident the former two-time Unified Heavyweight Champion will return to winning ways in style.

He told the BBC: “It’s a really tough fight with a lot of pressure to come back because if AJ doesn’t win that fight then we have a big problem.

“I think you’re going to see a statement from a very dangerous guy who’s very motivated to become a three-time world heavyweight champion.”

The stubborn Franklin was dismissed as a gimme opponent for AJ despite going the distance with recent WBC title challenger Dillian White last November.

Hearn said: “There’s so much contradiction, ‘Anthony Joshua is done, mentally he’s shot.

“‘But he’ll KO Jermaine Franklin in three rounds.’

“The same people who say Jermaine Franklin beat Dillian Whyte, but he’s a terrible opponent for Anthony Joshua, in a comeback fight after two losses to the pound-for-pound number one.

“What this guy has done from a resume perspective is incredible.

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“And I’m telling you now, this guy — still top 3 heavyweight, poised to reclaim his world heavyweight title.”

While Hearn is confident Joshua will return to the Victory Column, he admits the Olympian’s career will be over if he suffers a third loss at the trot.

He told iFL TV: “You go into this fight in April knowing that defeat is really over.

“It would be a third loss in a row and yet a great performance and a showroom knockout will have everyone saying, ‘We’re back baby.’

“This is what I can’t wait for because I love it when we have our backs to the wall.

“I’m thrilled. I’m very excited. This is the most exciting thing I’ve experienced on Joshua’s journey so far.”