Anthony Joshua eyes one 'last run' to become heavyweight champion again

Anthony Joshua is planning a "last run" at the heavyweight title, saying he hopes to become a three-time champion before he turns 35.

The Englishman takes on Jermaine Franklin at London's O2 Arena on Saturday, his first ring appearance since losing for a second time to Oleksandr Usyk last summer.

Joshua, who is 34 in October, admitted he craved the respect afforded by his peers for being champion as he looks to join the great Muhammad Ali as the only heavyweight to win titles on three occasions.

“It’s been a great run,” Joshua, the former WBA, WBO and IBF belt-holder admitted.

“The thing is, I do and I did want respect from people in the industry that I admire, ex-legends in the game and when you’re not a champion any more you feel like that goes away.

“So, that was definitely something I was yearning for, is the respect from ex-champions and ... but it’s all good. We move forward. I’m not really doing it for that purpose any more because I’m not in that position, but the desire? One is definitely to become champion, which I think is possible within the next 16 months.

“I think we’ve got to see what happens this year with the belts. Let them be competed for and then potentially let them go up in the air and then we’ll see where the belts land. Then just stay consistent, stay focused on improving for these next 12 to 16 months while I’m in title contention.”

Two of Joshua’s most recent wins have come against boxers who went on to fight into their forties in Kubrat Pulev and Alexander Povetkin.

Meanwhile, Wladimir Klitschko was 41 when Joshua beat him in stunning fashion at Wembley in 2016 but the former Olympic champion does not envisage himself following in their footsteps and hinted he could walk away if he can reign