Joshua prevailed on an unanimous decision after 12 rounds to secure the much-needed win – his first since knocking out Kubrat Pulev in December 2020.
But what could be Joshua’s next staging post as the 33 year-old looks to rebuild his career and climb back to the very top of the heavyweight division?
We take a look at who Joshua could fight next.
Tyson Fury
A fight between ‘The Gypsy King’ and Joshua has failed to materialise in recent years, but the former Olympic champion made his feelings clear about facing Fury after sealing the victory over Franklin.
Joshua said: ‘The ball is in his court. I would 100 per cent be honoured to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship of the world. I stand here and say that proudly and with honour.
Calling Fury out directly, Joshua added: ‘Wherever you are, if you’re listening, you know my management, you know my promoter, we’ve had dialogue before, so let’s continue and get this on sooner or later.
‘We aren’t getting any younger. I can’t wait to get back to Texas and push on because there is a bigger fight. One fight leads to another and I can’t wait to get the next big fight.
Promoter Eddie Hearn added before Joshua’s win over Franklin: ‘I truly believe that as long as AJ beats Franklin we will see him against Fury in the summer.’
Dillian Whyte
A rematch with Whyte could make perfect sense with both fighters currently not in line for a shot at a world title.
Joshua and Whyte’s only meeting in the ring so far came back in 2015, with Joshua stopping the Brixton fighter in the seventh round to claim the British title in what was the first defeat of Whyte’s career.
Whyte, who was in attendance at The O2 on Saturday night, told DAZN before Joshua’s win: ‘I hope he wins tonight because I want to fight him next.
‘Me against the Franklin, the winner should have been fighting AJ, it was supposed to be the winner fights AJ next and he is fighting the loser. So I hopes he wins tonight.
‘I want the chance to redeem myself because he keeps playing this video of him knocking me out years and years ago and I want revenge.’
Deontay Wilder
A meeting between Joshua and Wilder was on the cards in 2019 when the pair held all four titles between them, but the proposed fight collapsed over disputes with boxing politics and finances.
But with no belts to defend or any obliging mandatory challengers, not to mention any undefeated records to protect, striking a deal between Joshua and the American could now prove much easier.
The 37 year-old’s last fight was the knockout victory over Robert Helenius in New York back in October.
Oleksandr Usyk
Third time lucky for Joshua? The Watford-born fighter was beaten by Usyk on an unanimous decision in September 2021, before losing the rematch on a split decision last summer.
The back-to-back defeats in London and Jeddah saw Joshua relinquish his IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles.
The Ukrainian looked all set to face Fury this year before their talks spectacularly broke down in March, in part, due to a dispute over the purse split.
MORE : What is Anthony Joshua’s net worth and how much will he earn from Jermaine Franklin fight?
MORE : Anthony Joshua speaks out on post-fight chaos with Tony Bellew marched away after altercation with Jermaine Franklin team
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