Anthony Joshua tipped the scales at a career-heavy 255lb this afternoon ahead of his comeback fight with Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London tomorrow evening.
The two-time world heavyweight champion will begin his journey back to the titles on Saturday against Franklin in a bout that will be make or break for his career. A loss, which would be his third in a row, could cost him his entire career, but a victory could catapult the Brit into a showdown this summer with Tyson Fury for the WBC belt.
And he packed on the size since reshuffling his team and moving to Texas, where he has trained under famed trainer Derrick James. Joshua is coming off the back of two losses to unified champion Oleksandr Usyk and is keen to prove himself as a top heavyweight again with a massive victory tomorrow.
"It's good, calm," Joshua said in an understated interview following his weigh-in. "How am I feeling approaching this fight? I've got my game plan, I've got my mind right and I'm just ready to go to war. I know I've got the possibility of knocking him out 100 per cent but there's a process of getting there.
"I just follow my process, pray to God and what will be will be. What's important [is the fans being in attendance]. How's everyone doing? Good energy, so I appreciate everyone coming out, this is amazing. So many people, Westfields, good choice. What more can I say? I'm honoured, I don't take this lightly, I'm humbled and I appreciate everyone here today. Some people are just passing through so hello to the newcomers, welcome to boxing."
Joshua's opponent Franklin tipped the scales at 234lb, having dropped a whopping 23lb for his biggest fight to date. His last trip to the UK ended in disappointment when he lost a razor-close decision to Dillian Whyte back in November, but he was rewarded for his performance with a massive showdown against Joshua this weekend.
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"We just approach this fight with a whole new attitude," Franklin said. "A whole new demeanour, a whole new strategy, we worked very hard in this camp so we just put the game plan to pass Saturday. He probably bulked up a little bit but we're ready for whatever.
"We've got a chin of steel so I'm not worried too much about power, he's still got to be able to touch me with it. I'm comfortable, this is what I do. I love the sport, I love to fight and in the ring it's just me and him. I'm going for anything I need a win by any means necessary if he shows me that I can stop him I'm going to try and put him on his a** but if he don't then we're going to win in dominating fashion."
