Anthony Joshua was at a career-heaviest weight when he took to the scales ahead of his last bout but he’s trimmed right down in this camp.
‘AJ’ came in at a thickly muscled 17st 12lbs on the eve of his Wembley showdown with Wladimir Klitschko in April but we should expect a significantly lighter Joshua next Saturday.
According to promoter Eddie Hearn, Joshua has dedicated himself to a more speed-oriented strategy and has thus dropped a considerable amount of mass ahead of his title defence in Cardiff next weekend.
“Josh is hitting very hard,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “You’re going to see him come in lighter in this fight.
“You’re going to see him extra fast, with extra spite. As far as I’m concerned the most exciting fighter in world boxing, ready to do the business next Saturday.
“I think he could be 10 pounds, even a stone lighter than he was in the Klitschko fight.
“You’re going to see him extra fast, with extra spite. As far as I’m concerned the most exciting fighter in world boxing, ready to do the business next Saturday.”
Joshua was originally slated to take on mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev but the Bulgarian heavyweight picked up an injury this week which ruled him out of the contest.
Thankfully, Carlos Takam answered the call to step in on short notice and he will share the ring with the undefeated Brit in front of a sell-out Principality Stadium.
