‘I’m there to f****** work’ – Anthony Joshua insists he has never taken a fight more seriously than his bout with Jermaine Franklin despite facing Oleksandr Usyk, Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko as ex-world champion trains in Texas

Anthony Joshua has roared he is in Texas to 'f****** work' ahead of his fight to face Jermane Franklin - insisting he has never taken an opponent more seriously.

The two-time world heavyweight champion is bidding to get back to winning ways on April 1 against his American opponent at the O2 Arena.

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Joshua has suffered back-to-back points defeats against Oleksandr Usyk where he lost his WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

The Watford native has won just two out of his last five dust-ups, and he knows he cannot falter in his next outing if he wishes to secure a future title shot.

His fight with Franklin, who lost on points to Dillian Whyte in November 2022, is his first non-world title bout since he knocked out Charles Martin in April 2016.

He is currently training Stateside for the first time in his career after teaming up with Derrick James, who trains unified champions Errol Spence Jr and Jermell Charlo.

But Joshua isn't getting distracted by his new surroundings, as he declared this is the most serious he has prepared for a fight in his professional career.

Speaking in his , AJ was asked by promoter Eddie Hearn whether he has had time to enjoy a coffee out or head to the cinema.

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AJ responded: "I haven't seen anything! I'm not there for anything else.

"I'm a serious person, I'm not there for anything else really. But one thing is for sure, throughout my career, this is probably the most serious time I've taken it.

"In terms of my food, my sleep, the way I'm training, I study the game and everything I've learnt - me and Jermaine could chop it up and talk boxing for hours.

"Everything I've learnt about boxing, I'm always putting it into another camp, so everything I've been through - positive and negative - I'm using it to fuel this camp here.

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"So I'm not really there to go out for coffees and talk about bulls***, I'm there to f****** work and put my head down and get ready for a fight."

Pressed on how he is feeling after being involved in 12 consecutive championship contests, he remarked: "Serious. Focused. Locked in. It's a serious fight, good opponent, I respect all my opponents.

"So if he had the belts there, I would take him the same way, and if he doesn't have the belts there I have got to take him the same way.

"I have to give the man his respect because he's coming to fight, and that'll make me keep my feet on the ground and take him seriously."

Joshua also revealed that money is his motivation for his comeback bout.

When asked about why he's fighting, AJ said: "Money, money, money. I like making money.

"Straight up, this is a prizefighting sport, I've been broke, my family has been broke, I know what this s*** means and I do it because I'm good at it and I hustle hard.

"And when this is all said and done, no one will care about me no more, so I've got to make the most of it while I'm here."

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Though he stressed that he has fallen back in love with boxing after a tough time - insisting that he has cut out distractions from his life to dedicate himself to the sport.

He said: "Going to the gym for a fighter is just a normal every day thing. So many fighters go to the gym every day.

"But there's a difference when you put your heart into it and I've had to get rid of a lot of distractions and things in my life so I can put my heart back into the game.

"Because I always built businesses outside of boxing because of the fear of going back to square one, so I always try to build an empire so when it's all said and done, I will never be able to look back and say I made stupid decisions.

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"But I made a conscious decision last year to step back and just put my heart back into boxing and nothing else.

"So I've definitely got that fire back going again."