Joshua gets the final word
"You will see me in the summer for sure, thank you Eddie for the opportunity and you'll definitely see me in the summer."
Anthony Joshua advised to "play the game" by heavyweight boxing legendTwo-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua returns to the ring tonight in an understated comeback bout with American Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London.
The former champion is coming off the back of two losses to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk, and wants a massive statement win in order to cement a big summer fight, potentially with Tyson Fury. However, he faces a tougher test than it seems on paper against a live underdog in Franklin, who many believe won his bout with Dillian Whyte back in November.
On the undercard, there's continental heavyweight title action betwen Fabio Wardley and Michael Coffie, as well as the returns of Campbell Hatton and Olympic gold medalist Galal Yafai.
The main event will start at around 10.30pm and you can follow all the action right here...
"You will see me in the summer for sure, thank you Eddie for the opportunity and you'll definitely see me in the summer."
Anthony Joshua advised to "play the game" by heavyweight boxing legend"I think AJ's going to want the biggest fights," Hearn adds. "I will say that was a step down from Oleksandr Usyk but there was a huge amount of pressure on him. He took himself away, he's been training and it's his first fight with Derrick James. I thought he ended the fight well, he's learning a lot and working on a lot.
"But like he said, they're not getting any younger. We would be willing to entertain those conversations now to go straight into a Tyson Fury fight in the summer. We've got Dillian Whyte down there, Deontay Wilder, a lot of good fights out there. I think he's going to improve under Derrick James. There was a lot of pressure out there and he's going to want the big fights as well."
"O2 what's happening!?" Joshua roars, and receives a huge cheer in response. "Listen, last time I grabbed the mic it was a bit chaotic. So I'm calm, I appreciate every single person coming out this evening.
"Inside this squared circle, it's a different kind of energy in here so I apologise for anybody watching and seeing that type of stuff [at the end] because we're sportsmen. But I respect Jermaine, I respect everyone here tonight. Eddie thank you for this opportunity and fans, everybody watching at home thank you as well.
"If it weren't a knockout it was important to get the win. You see Jermaine's got a good duck and dive style. Someone else from Britain will knock him out, probably. There were opportunities there, but he knew how to tuck up. Respect to him, he done well and I respect him for that. Well done to him and his team for preparing.
"You know that they were prepared for the fight, I should have knocked him out but what can I say? It's done and on to the next. You see when people come to fight me I think they muster up a different kind of energy. I feel like he had a lot of pride and he's here to prove himself, he ain't here to roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out 100 per cent. But in the next 15 years no-one will remember that fight anyway.
"You know what it is with my weight? I don't really watch my weight, I just kind of train to the sparring rounds. We're doing 13 rounds or 15 rounds however I feel I adapt my body. I don't really worry about my weight. But anyway, let's address the fans.
"How's everyone doing tonight? British boxing, it's an amazing thing and honestly I do appreciate every single one of you, no banter. I do appreciate every one of you highly. I wish I could come 'round and speak to every one of you, I don't even want to speak to Ade, I speak to you all the time!
"You know me, I try and provide for the fans so whatever the fans want, who the fans want, they said Fury? Well the ball's in his court. I 100 per cent would be honoured to compete for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. I stand here and say that proudly, that would be an honour.
"So wherever you are if you're listening you know my management, you know my promoter, we've had dialogue before so let's hopefully get this on sooner than later. We're not getting any younger! I can't wait to get back to Texas, develop and push on because there's a bigger fight. I can't wait to get the next big fight."
Joshua told 'play the game' by boxing icon Evander Holyfield after Usyk defeats118-111, 117-111x2 and Joshua gets his hand raised. Not the performance he was hoping for. one would think.
Tony Bellew getting into it with a member of team Franklin, Joshua looks a little embarrassed by his behaviour there after they're separated.
Little bit of nastiness there between these two, will we get the finish?
Joshua not at all having the success he was hoping for, he's missing more than he had been but as I type that he lands a big right around the back and a huge uppercut.
Franklin is a true warrior, he's survived some monstrous punches here, and we go to the final bell! Joshua and Franklin ned to be separated after the final bell. Emotions flaring, yet again, for the Brit.
Big thunderous bodyshot from Joshua a minute into this round and Franklin feels it. He'll feel the uppercut that comes in after that as well!
Joshua is looking for the stoppage, but he could use a move through the gears. This certainly won't be scaring Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder.
Franklin is still trying to get the finish that he needs, but Joshua is confident here now. We head to the final round, who would have that that!
It would be hard to argue in Joshua's favour against his detractors after nine, he's comfortable but not as much as he should be.
They exchange big shots and Joshua gets three big right hands through! But Franklin landed a big right hand of his own. This one is getting real close now, Joshua and Franklin both land big.
Joshua allowing this to become a tougher fight than it needs to be because he wants to get a knockout. Can he find it in the championship rounds?
It's getting dirty here, Joshua's white shorts with a tinge of red on them, and a lot of that blood is not Franklin's.
Lots of holding and now Franklin lands a big right! This has been yet another impressive outing from the American.
We head to the tenth.
Big right hand from Joshua to start the round, brief time out so Franklin can be talked to by our referee.
Joshua putting real power behind his punches, the Franklin corner saying more hopefully than seriously that he's tiring.
There was no bad blood in the build-up but there appears to be some now that they're in a bit of a dog-fight.
Probably 7-1 in Joshua's favour after eight.
We're past halfway. A lot of punters will be unhappy with Joshua's measured approach here, but there's no doubt he's winning this.
There's something wrong with Joshua's nose. Big round for Franklin, probably his first of the fight as he gets inside and takes advantage of the Brit perhaps taking a round off.
Strong work from Franklin but Joshua finishes strongly with a right hand. Franklin wearing a pretty serious cut under his right hand.
Franklin slowing down a small bit now, he's fighting very passively.
Joshua again landing big punches, he's snuck in two solid uppercuts now.
The jab from Anthony Joshua is causing problems too, Franklin appears not to have prepared for that.
Joshua flies out of the traps, goes head-hunting but is tied up and Franklin sneaks in a lovely uppercut.
Joshua finding his feet and beginning to control the ring completely now. Franklin's corner told him that Joshua would be getting tired soon, they'd better not be banking on that.
Huge right from Joshua and somehow Jermaine Franklin rides it. The pair trade in the centre of the ring and Franklin may have actually got the better of that.
Joshua finding a home for almost every punch he throws, but Franklin is a live underdog here.
The smaller man is looking to find his way inside and he lands a nice big right hand.
Jermaine Franklin is very much in this fight, he's getting his body shots in and the pair end the round swinging for the fences.
Franklin more aggressive, trying to find that right hand.
Joshua catches him but he recovers well and swings back.
The bigger shots are from Joshua, but Franklin is getting more aggressive the more settled into this fight he becomes.
AJ finishes the round beautifully with a straight right, might have stolen it for him and got him to 30-27.
For the first time under Derrick James, Joshua makes his way out from the corner.
Joshua finding a hand for the right hand now, he lands two big ones.
At one point, Joshua told media that he didn't want to get to the corner, he's not fighting that way at all.
He isn't having any problems with the big Franklin punches but he also isn't barrelling forward.
We're through two.
Joshua slaps him with a left hook after Franklin moves around.
Franklin struggling to get inside of Joshua's jab. Good feeling out round for the Brit.
AJ steps right to Jermaine Franklin, stares him down. The size difference is monstrous.
The crowd go absolutely nuts for Joshua's return to the O2, his first fight here in seven years.
Our main event is upon us!
Has he bloodied someone in his warmup?
AJ will make the walk within the next five minutes.
Let us know your predictions on Twitter @MirrorFighting
AJ's return is almost upon us.
Wardley moves to 16-0 but that was an awful stoppage. Coffie was covered up and taking almost no damage on the ropes.
Wardley is hunting for that finish, piling pressure on Coffie!
AND HE GETS IT. Perhaps an early stoppage, Coffie certainly thinks so. But Wardley becomes Continental champion and moves to 16-0.
Wardley stays aggressive. Coffie is trying to keep him off with the jab but it's not working so well.
Coffie's head movement is brilliant, but he isn't landing ther big punches he wings over.
Wardley swings wildly and allows a brief opening, much better round this time.
Wardley stuns Coffie early with a big right hand. The American steps back and retreats a bit after that one.
The Brit is in control of the ring just now, stalking around and chasing his rival.
WBA continental heavyweight title on the line; Fabio Wardley vs Michael Polite Coffie