If Joshua can get past the American, it will mark the start of another push for a world title shot and his promoter Eddie Hearn wants the former two-time world heavyweight champion to keep active after a quiet past couple of years.

"We always have plans to be active, in the past either through tough fights, injuries or media and sponsorship obligations it ends up being two," Hearn told The DAZN Boxing Show. 

"We have got a chance here to go April, go July, go December and that’s very much the plan is keeping nice and active this year.

"Anything can happen, these are two guys 17, 18 stone breaking hands, damaging jaws, cheekbones, anything can happen.

"But all being well April 1st, he’ll be looking to have a big fight in the Summer and then go again in December."

With a three fight plan for 2023, it's expected that Joshua every fight will see a step-up in opponent and Hearn revealed some of the names that his fighter could face following his meeting with Franklin. 

"People talk about the Dillian Whyte fight in the Summer, that’s a good fight for him," Hearn said.

"Deontay Wilder is a fight that he definitely wants and that’s not going to be around forever. That is one of the biggest fights in boxing.

"There’s Tyson Fury, what is he going to do?

"Is he going to fight Usyk? It’s gone very quiet, they have been negotiating now for over a month. AJ wants big fights."