Joshua bulking up for Franklin bout as DAZN launches new channel for former champion

The former heavyweight world champion is looking to rebuild following consecutive losses which saw him dethroned by Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua bulking up for Franklin bout as DAZN launches new channel for former champion

Nigeria-born Anthony Joshua is seemingly bulking up once again ahead of his comeback fight against Jermaine Franklin on April 1.

The former heavyweight world champion is looking to rebuild following consecutive losses which saw him dethroned by Oleksandr Usyk.

Since turning pro in 2013, Joshua’s weight has been a subject of great discussion.

Some of Joshua’s most devastating performances have come when he was heavier on the scales earlier in his career.

AJ was 250lbs (17st 12lbs) when he knocked out Wladimir Klitschko in his career best victory in 2017.

However, this all came crashing down in 2019 when he was 248lbs (17st 10lbs) in his knockout loss to Andy Ruiz.

As a result, Joshua dropped to 237lbs (16st 13lbs) for his rematch with Andy Ruiz later that same year and outboxed the Mexican-American to regain his belts at the time.

Since then, he’s stayed near this lighter weight and has not scaled above 244lbs (17st 6lbs), despite many calling for him to use his size to his advantage against Usyk.

Now, under a new trainer AJ appears to be bulking up again.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was in Dallas on Wednesday and visited his heavyweight charge in camp.

He posted a picture which has provoked fans to comment on the size of Joshua’s arms.

One wrote: “AJ looking massive! Old AJ vibe!”

A second said: “Arms look huge.”

A third put: “Maybe it’s just the photo but Joshua looks HUGE in this.”eduled to go out there so after this, Gunni’s [Gunnar Nelson] also on the card so it would be good to see him live. It would be good to watch that welterweight title for sure. 

Meanwhile, Dazn Group, the global sports entertainment platform, has announced the launch of DAZN 1 HD in the UK and Ireland on channel 429 on Sky ahead of the return of British boxing’s biggest name, two-time World Heavyweight Champion of the World Anthony Joshua, on 1 April 2023.

From 23 March, DAZN 1 HD will show a 24/7 unrivalled schedule of live and catch-up content, including the ultimate UK boxing line up with 50 fights a year featuring international superstars like Anthony Joshua, Canelo Alvarez, Katie Taylor and Ryan Garcia, alongside a daily dose of boxing news on the DAZN Boxing Show.

The non-stop programming will also include DAZN’s trailblazing tie up with KSI’s Misfits Boxing – the X Series, a new era of crossover boxing featuring the biggest names in entertainment, sport and lifestyle headlining blockbuster fight nights.

For UK fans, DAZN delivers the fastest growing mixed martial arts (MMA) competition, the Professional Fighters League, alongside a full roster of MMA content including, MMA Bushido, MMA Naciones, Oktagon MMA, King of Kings, Brave Combat Federation, and Muay Thai For Life. DAZN also brings an action-packed wrestling schedule with All Elite Wrestling, Impact Wrestling and Prime Time Wrestling.