Anthony Joshua reveals three-fight hitlist after Jermaine Franklin return bout but leaves Dillian Whyte rematch OFF

ANTHONY JOSHUA has revealed his three-fight hitlist if he beats Jermaine Franklin – but left a rematch with Dillian Whyte OFF.

Joshua returns on Saturday against Franklin, who was beaten by Whyte in a disputed majority decision in November.

ReutersAnthony Joshua ahead of his return fight against Jermaine Franklin[/caption]

ReutersAnthony Joshua beat Dillian Whyte in 2015[/caption]

AJ was in line to fight Whyte right after but promoter Eddie Hearn instead teased a summer stadium blockbuster.

But Joshua appears to have his eyes on other targets as he revealed his dream trio of next fights.

He said: “If you were to ask me what my ambitions are, one is to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world.

“The second is my motivation to make money and the third is to fight Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury and Joe Joyce.”

Whyte, 34, beat Joshua, 33, in the amateurs in 2009 but lost the rematch by stoppage six years later in the professional ranks.

And he fumed when Franklin, 29, was the man to welcome AJ back to the ring despite his win over the American.

Hearn has talked up the chances of Joshua fighting Fury, 34, this summer after talks to unify the division with Oleksandr Usyk, 36, collapsed.

But with Wilder, 37, a free agent now it has paved the way for AJ to finally settle the score with the ex-WBC champion.

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Joshua told Dan Rafael: “It seems like Deontay Wilder’s more realistic, because I just think that the stuff that goes on with Fury is a bit crazy, man.

“I’ve been in this situation for a long time – even with them two I’ve been in this same situation – but I just feel like Deontay’s coming to a stage in his career where he’s realistic.

“It’s not like, ‘I just want this fight’, I think he needs it. So that’s more realistic if I’m honest with you, especially with the place that we’re both at in our careers.”

Meanwhile, Joyce’s promoter Frank Warren has urged Joshua to get in touch over a British blockbuster.

Warren said to talkSPORT: “Well he hasn’t got to go far if he wants to fight him, just pick the phone up.

“Provided my man comes through and he comes through, we could do that in the summer. Not a problem.”

Joe Joyce with his promoter Frank WarrenRex