LONDON, England — Anthony Joshua said he has removed “distractions” from his life as he plans to rebuild his boxing career ahead of an April bout against Jermaine Franklin.
Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) is looking to rebound from back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk — the second of which was a split-decision loss this past August in Saudi Arabia. He will return to the ring for the first time since then in an April 1 bout against Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London.
The 33-year-old Brit said in a news conference Thursday that he has put all of his focus into the upcoming Franklin fight in a way he has not before.
“So many fighters go to the gym every day but there is a difference when you put your heart into it,” Joshua said. “I have had to get rid of a lot of distractions in my life and things so I can put my heart back into the game.”
He has changed trainers for the upcoming fight, hiring Texas-based Derrick James. Joshua previously worked with Team GB trainer Rob McCracken before splitting from him to work with Robert Garcia for the second Usyk bout.
Joshua said he has been more serious regarding his diet and training for this bout than ever before.
“Locked in. It’s a serious opponent, I respect all my opponents,” he said.
“He’s coming to fight. That will make me keep my feet on the ground.
“Throughout my career this is probably the most serious time I’ve taken it. Everything I’ve been through — positive, negative — I’m using it to fuel this camp.”