Anthony Joshua is entering a new phase of his career with a new mindset.
“We’ll see how I acclimatise to walking in as someone who’s a contender for the championship now,” AJ says; ahead of his fight with America’s Jermaine Franklin.
In preparation, Joshua has changed his training set up
AJ is on the comeback trail, returning to action at the O2 Arena in London on April 1 against American Jermaine Franklin.
“When you’re searching for greatness, when you’re searching for better you’ve got to go outside of your comfort zone and go looking and searching,” Joshua said.
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“I ended up in Texas and Derrick James is a good coach amongst many other trainers out there. But in the small roster that I chose, I felt Derrick was a good fit for me.”
Crucially for Joshua, he will take on Franklin with a new mindset. For this fight, for the first time in a long time, he feels like he has nothing to lose.
“I’m looking at myself as a contender. When you have the belts and are champion, you have to fight a certain way. Because [you’re against] someone who’s coming to take what you have,” Joshua said.
“There’s different mindsets to you trying to protect what you have. Now I haven’t got anything to protect so I’m going to come in with a different mindset so that’s what is different about it.”
“It’s a natural transition. Like the hunter and the hunted. I’m just on the different end of the spectrum now and I’ve just got to rebuild. Jermaine Franklin’s on that same end of the spectrum too, so it’ll be a good fight.”
I’ll Take Him Seriously
Franklin last boxed in the UK in November, when he lost a close majority decision to Dillian Whyte. Joshua insists he is treating the American as a real threat.
“It shows what type of fighter he is. Let’s not underestimate my opponent,” he said. “I respect him, I rate him and I’ll take him seriously.”
“It’s a new year. So, I’ve got to leave that [Usyk defeat] in the past and look forward. Jermaine Franklin is a good fighter for sure.
“Someone I respect and rate because it would be silly of me to underestimate any opponent and I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring,” Joshua continued.
“I don’t know why but it feels different to what it usually is.
“But we’ll see how I acclimatise to walking in as someone who’s a contender for the championship now.”
There is an eventual deadline for him to win another title. The 33-year-old does not intend to keep boxing into his 40s.
