Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine FRANKLIN LIVE: UK Start Time, Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch AJ's Return TODAY

ANTHONY JOSHUA has one shot to revive his career and it all unfolds when he faces Jermaine Franklin TONIGHT!

AJ was the London 2012 golden boy, the face of Sky Sports and has dragged British boxing back into the mainstream.

Whole families – who wouldn’t usually know a left hook from a fish hook – would gather around their TVs and pay PPV money to watch the bad-boy-done-glorious transcend the sport.

Grandmas and grandsons alike loved how the sweet science had helped a Watford 18-year-old transform from bricklayer with criminal convictions to a world champion with great intentions.

An entire industry has been built on the broad British-Nigerian shoulders of 33-year-old Joshua and when he lost his WBA, WBO and IBF world titles after two fights to Oleksandr Usyk, a decade of pressure and bottled-up emotion erupted out of him.

On Saturday night – minus the gargantuan power of Sky Sports after signing up to be the poster boy of London-based streaming app DAZN – AJ tries to rebuild his confidence and reputation once again.

Following five sell-out stadium shows shared between Wembley, Cardiff and Tottenham – it is sad to learn the 18,000-seater O2 arena has been a hard sell for the walking-talking-fighting Hollywood billboard.

But whether it be the cost-of-living crisis, the sudden and drastic drop off in Sky support or the profile of 29-year-old American opponent Jermaine Franklin, the once die-hard fans have voted with their feet.

Hopefully a new trainer in Texas-based Derrick James and a Dallas training camp away from creature comforts have refocused his mind so much that the sudden dip in popularity flies over AJ’s head with Franklin punches.

And – once he blows away the memories of back-to-back punishing points losses to 36-year-old Ukraine mastermind Usyk – hopefully he leaps into a blockbuster against old rival Dillian Whyte, media nemesis Tyson Fury, former Team GB sparring partner Joe Joyce or mega-punching Alabama former champion Deontay Wilder.

Because, apart from in that Saudi Arabia press conference in August, after a consecutive loss exiled him from the elite band of heavyweights in the world title mix, AJ has never really let us see him hurt.

Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout

But that night he broke down in tears and sobbed at the heartbreaking and false idea he had let his nation down.

The truth is if we have male and female world champions now who only picked up gloves as wayward kids because of him.

Dozens of amateur boxing gyms only survived the pandemic lockdown because of personal donations he made.

And we’ve enjoyed over a decade of brilliant moments and memories from his dedication, sacrifice, hard work, and sometimes health.

The old boxing adage goes; “if you want loyalty, buy a dog”.

But our English mastiff has clawed and scrapped to the very top for us and now we need to stand by him, cheer him on and hope his latest run – after three defeats – is as rich and rewarding as he deserves after almost twenty years of brave service.

Listen to free live commentary of Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin on talkSPORT. Download the app.

When is Joshua vs Franklin?

• Joshua’s big fight against Franklin will take place TONIGHT – Saturday, April 1.
• The event will be held at London’s O2 Arena.
• The fight will get underway at approximately 10.30pm UK time.
• The main card will begin at 7pm.

What channel is Joshua vs Franklin and can it be live streamed?

• Joshua vs Franklin will be shown live on DAZN in the UK as part of your subscription.
• You can subscribe to DAZN in the UK for £9.99-a-month, which commits you to an entire year of action.
• A flexible pass, worth £19.99-a-month, is also available, and you can cancel anytime.
• You can also pay £99.99 for the year up front, and this is the lowest cost option.
• The fight is available for live streaming on your mobile or tablet device from the DAZN app.

What was the weigh-in results?

Anthony Joshua weighed in at a career heaviest for his mouth-watering fight against Jermaine Franklin.

While Franklin shedded 25 pounds from when he was narrowly beaten by Dillian Whyte in November 2022.

AJ – 18st 3lbs

Franklin – 16st 7lbs

Joshua vs Franklin full card

• Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin
• Austin Williams vs. River Wilson-Bent
• Campbell Hattom vs. Louis Fielding
• John Hedges vs. Daniel Bocianski
• Ziyad Almaayouf vs. Georgi Velichkov
• Peter Kadiru vs. Alen Lauriolle
• Juergen Uldedaj vs. Benoit Huber

What has been said?

“I am so happy I’m fighting again,” Joshua said. “Looking at the champions, it’s just a shambles.”

“When you’re trying to compete, all the mandatories and negotiations, I just can’t believe no fights have been made at a championship level.

“I’m just so happy I can get back to work and get on with my job. It’s the worst time [to fight me].

“The more he talks the bigger grave he digs for himself. I could say a lot of things about him, but I respect my opponent.

“I’m prepared for a 12-rounder but I do believe in my ability and my counter-punching to put a dent in Jermaine.”

Who is Joshua’s new trainer Derrick James?

Joshua had Team GB coach Rob McCracken in his corner for most of his career, but that all changed before the Usyk rematch.

AJ brought in esteemed trainer of multiple world champions Robert Garcia.

And though Garcia did implement a more offensive game plan against Usyk, the fight slipped away from Joshua, who has now decided to make another change.

Joshua is set to link up with James, who trains both undisputed super-welterweight champion Jermell Charlo, and unified welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr.

Both men are offensive-minded, with Spence Jr especially well-versed when it comes to educated pressure-fighting.

James won the Ring Magazine trainer of the year award in 2017, but he also had his own fighting career once upon a time.

The Texan finished his career with a pro record of 27-7-1, but missed out on the chance to compete at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.

James is currently the only trainer in boxing to coach two fighters who hold multiple world titles.