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Anthony Joshua weighs in at career-high for Jermaine Franklin fight
Joshua is 11lb heavier than his last fight against champion Oleksandr Usyk in August
Anthony Joshua weighs in at 18st 3lb (115.7kg) for Saturday’s fight against Jermaine Franklin, which marks a career-high for the British boxer. This is 11lb heavier than his last fight against champion Oleksandr Usyk in August. A bulked-up Joshua has stated that he’s ready to go to war with Franklin, who weighed in at 16st 7lb (106.1kg), 23lb lighter than when he lost to Dillian Whyte in November, suggesting that he could be targeting a knockout win using his added weight and strength.
Debate over Joshua’s weight in recent years
Previous fight performances have highlighted Joshua’s signs of fatigue, and there has been much debate surrounding his weight in recent years. After losing to Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2016, Joshua came in lighter for the rematch and outboxed the Mexican-American over 12 rounds. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, believes that his added weight will produce an explosive knockout win. Franklin, who has shown resilience and durability in previous fights, is not necessarily considered a technically astute nor heavy hitting boxer.
The pull of Joshua
Such is the pull of Joshua, there was no venue close to the O2 Arena big enough to deal with the number of people eager to catch a glimpse of the two-time world champion. Therefore, the Westfield London shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush was the chosen location. Fans lined up on the balconies overlooking the atrium, joined by shoppers passing by or people evading the rain outside. There was no significant drama or controversy, and Joshua will be under pressure to deliver a knockout performance for this fight.
Credit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/boxing/65136861
