LONDON:
Anthony Joshua insists he remains among the world’s best, ahead of his return to the ring this weekend.
On Saturday the British fighter returns to face Jermaine Franklin of the United States at London’s 02 Arena.
The 33-year-old will be vying for his first win since 2020 after losing. Oleksandr Usyk saw the first Olympic champion lose, but not regain, multiple world heavyweight championships.
Joshua is no longer in the top three of the WBA, WBO, WBC or IBF.
But he remains confident and when asked who he thinks is the best in world boxing, Joshua replied on Saturday: “Usyk, (Tyson) Fury and me.
“I rate the situation. I’ve been in the top 10 for the last several years? I’ve been in the top 10 for about eight years so I rate them. “
He added: “It’s all about who you fight too. Position is important but you also have to fight big names.”
Englishmen Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois are ahead of Joshua in the WBO and WBA, meaning one of them will be next in line to fight Usyk.
The Ukrainian is set to face the undefeated WBC champion Anger in a joint fight next month.
However, it seems that the campaign has failed, for now, as talks between the two camps broke down.
The collapse of that fight, however, could pave the way for a ‘Battle of Britain’ contest, and of Joshua The promoter said that Eddie Hearn would be ready to talk to Fury’s management if all went well for his man against Franklin.
But a long-anticipated contest has twice fallen through, with negotiations between Hearn and veteran promoter Frank Warren ending in chaos.
Joshua was not concerned about Fury’s position and the prestige of the British fighters, saying: “He is a champion of the people, the only competition I have to do with him is in the ring.”
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