ANTHONY Joshua has declared that his career will have a new beginning as he battles Jermaine Franklin on Saturday.
The former world heavyweight boxing champion is coming off two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, who took his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation belts, and he believes the bout against the American is one he cannot afford to lose.
The redemption mission, billed as ‘New Dawn’, is scheduled for London’s famous 02 Arena on Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday.
Joshua, who has dual Nigerian and British nationality, is also heading to the fight with a new coach, Derrick James, his third trainer in three fights, as he looks to return to his best form.
“I’m starting fresh,” 33-year-old Joshua, who has won 24 of his 27 fights and lost three, said in an interview with fellow boxer Tony Bellew.
Joshua’s first defeat was to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019 but he reclaimed his IBF, WBA and WBO titles in the rematch six months later.
He was then dethroned once again — this time by Usyk in September 2021.
Joshua replaced coach Rob McCracken with Robert Garcia for the rematch with the Ukrainian, but was once again outpointed and outclassed by the wily Ukrainian.
“When I fought Usyk I felt like I let a lot of people down,” Joshua noted. “People said, ‘his mind ain’t in it, where’s his head at? His head’s not in the game’.
“That’s not the truth – my heart’s in the game, fully. This is all I have, really.”
Despite three losses in his last five fights, Joshua’s new American trainer says he is an admirer of the former world champion.
“When I saw him, I liked him,” James says. “I liked his size. What I saw from him, initially, was he’s a good fighter, he’s a good boxer. Very fast hands, very athletic.
“We kind of cross each other’s paths. It does give the motivation because you can see the good and the bad from a distance. Success breeds success. You put a dog with sheep, it’ll become a sheep.
“I think that, for me, it’s all about getting him to understand who he really is and how great he really is. What his full potential really is.”
The coach, 41, is a former fighter who also trains world champions Errol Spence Jr and twins Jermall and Jermell Charlo.
“Derrick James is an ex-fighter himself. I feel he knows how to get someone fight ready and he’s pushing me in that direction,” Joshua explained from his training camp in Texas, United States of America.
“When you’re among great fighters it helps. We’re all training at different times because there’s one Derrick James.”
Joshua believes basing his training camp outside of the United Kingdom can relieve some of the pressure brought on by the fame and public scrutiny back at home.
“It’s been tough,” he notes. “The expectation that’s been on my back where it’s like, ‘represent this, stand up for that, smile this place, carry this baby and smile’, that’s why it hit me when I didn’t win [against Usyk].
“Now I’m just saying I’m starting fresh. Training for example, when I’m at home doing ice baths, I’m able to relax and shut off.
“I remember [Saul] Canelo [Alvarez] said something, what made him successful was when he left the gym and was walking to the bus stop, he’ll be thinking about what his coach taught him that day.
“He’ll be overplaying it in his mind, shadow boxing and that’s how he managed to get to the next level.
“When I leave the gym here, my mind is still on the job. It’s not just about is your head in it? My heart is in it. It’s not just about the dough, you have to love it. Because it’s not normal.”
