What was all that talk of a trimmed down ‘AJ’?
Anthony Joshua took to the scales in Cardiff on Friday afternoon on the eve of his title defence against late replacement Carlos Takam and, somewhat surprisingly, the undefeated heavyweight came in at a career heaviest weight.
Joshua weighed in at an unexpected 18st 2lbs, which is slightly bigger than he was ahead of his April clash with Wladimir Klitschko (17st 12lbs).
The London 2012 gold medallist is going to be the significantly larger man when he shares the ring with Takam in the centre of the Principality Stadium on Saturday night.
Takam came in at 16st 11.5lbs just 11 days after agreeing to step in for the injured Kubrat Pulev, Joshua’s original opponent.
While the tension was palpable when the pair came face to face for the final time before fight night, there was nothing but respect shown between the fighters.
FACE OFF | @anthonyfjoshua vs Carlos Takam, The World Heavyweight Championship is on the line tomorrow night! 💥 #JoshuaTakam pic.twitter.com/sF8exKPasy
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) October 27, 2017
“I’d been starving myself,” Joshua said of the fact that he came in a little heavier than last time around. “Maybe I’m starting to fill out as I get older and find my natural weight? Who knows what it is, but I feel fitter than I have for any fight.”
Suggestions had been made by promoter Eddie Hearn that ‘AJ’ was going to be considerably lighter for this outing.
But perhaps psychological warfare was at play by the Matchroom boss.
“You’re going to see him come in lighter in this fight,” Hearn told Sky Sports last week.
“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.”
Well that definitely didn’t happen…
