Eddie Hearn insists Jermaine Franklin will be ‘fitter and faster’ against Anthony Joshua

Eddie Hearn says Jermaine Franklin’s weight loss will make him “fitter, faster and more agile” during his fight with Anthony Joshua.

Franklin – who trained alongside Tyson Fury before his fight with Dillian Whyte in November 2022 – will face AJ at the O2 tomorrow night.

Franklin has weighed 23 pounds lighter than against Whyte, while Joshua has hit the heaviest of his career at 255.4 pounds.

Hearn has said Jermaine’s weight loss will make him fitter and faster – and claims Joshua needs to shut down the American early on Saturday night.

Speaking exclusively to Sportsmail, Hearn said: “I don’t know what that’s like [Jermaine Franklin’s weight] will play in his head.

Jermaine Franklin weighed 23 pounds less than against Dillian Whyte when he tipped the scales at 234 pounds

Eddie Hearn thought the American would be “fitter, faster and more agile” than in his last fight

Anthony Joshua weighed a career-heaviest 255.4 pounds ahead of Saturday’s clash

“But can Franklin withstand Anthony Joshua’s artillery? Jermaine will move better, he will be fitter, he will be faster.

“Those are all things you never want to hear, but of course he’ll play his game against Anthony Joshua.

“It’s the chance of his career. He has a lot of confidence after the fight with Dillian Whyte.

“If AJ lets him get confident in this fight, it’s going to be a very tough fight. He has to come through early.’

Hearn ended by saying, “I’m expecting the very best Jermaine Franklin tomorrow night.”