Michael Hunter expects Anthony Joshua’s next fight to be a snoozefest.
Anthony Joshua’s proposed next fight against Jermaine Franklin has been branded as ‘horrible for fans’ by heavyweight rival Michael Hunter. The pair are set to square off on April 1 at the O2 Arena in London for Joshua’s first fight back since suffering consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Although the contest is yet to be officially announced it is understood that both parties have already agreed on terms. Sources have told Express Sport that the American is set to receive a guaranteed purse of around £800,000, plus a chunk of the PPV pot which could boost his overall payday up to in excess of £2million.
The bout is part of Joshua’s three-fight plan for 2023, starting with Franklin in April, followed by a domestic clash with Dillian Whyte in June and a blockbuster showdown with either Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury to close out the year.
Franklin, who recently lost a razor-close majority decision to Whyte, is seen as a rebuilding opponent for Joshua as he looks to mount a third run at heavyweight gold. But not everyone is keen on the matchup, notably Hunter, who believes it will be a dull watch.
The fight, I think, is horrible,” he told Pro Boxing Fans. “I think that’s a horrible fight, but I think that maybe it’s good for Anthony Joshua as a personal fight for him. I do think that. But as far as a fan fight, no.”
Hunter isn’t alone in expressing his displeasure at the match-up. Renowned boxing journalist Gareth A Davies recently penned a piece in the Telegraph entitled ‘Anthony Joshua’s next opponent shows how far he has fallen’ which wasn’t well received by promoter Eddie Hearn.
