Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, has acknowledged that the former unified heavyweight champion has lost part of his attractiveness to moviegoers, but he is adamant that the boxer can still recover and improve.

The 33-year-old two-time world champion is still feeling the effects of his consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine.

But Joshua’s ring return nears and he thinks it will be a road back to world title contention, on April 1, in a must-win battle against Jermaine Franklin at the O2.

Joshua has previously sold out arenas at Wembley and Tottenham, but thousands of seats remain available at the 20,000-seat East London arena.

Moreover, Joshua’s Matchroom promoter Hearn believes that Joshua’s business has suffered as a result of the repeated defeats to Usyk.

“He’s coming off two losses, so, of course, you’re not going to be the same size commercially as you were when you defeated Wladimir Klitschko in front of 90,000,” he said to Boxing.

“But he’s a great fighter, he’s one of the best heavyweights in the world. I feel li ESBRke he can still be the best heavyweight in the world.”