ALL EYES will be on Anthony Joshua when he tips the scales to fight Francis Ngannou as the fascination on his weight continues.
AJ’s fluctuating size has been a major talking point throughout his career as he looks to find that goldilocks number.
When he made his professional debut, he scaled 16st 6lb before knocking out Emanuele Leo inside the opening round.
By the time he became world heavyweight champion – three years and 16 fights later – he was at 17st 4lb.
Joshua then raised eyebrows a year on in his fourth title defence as he bulked up to a then-heaviest 18st 2lb before beating Carlos Takam.
AJ was accused of looking sluggish during the ten-round stoppage and returned to beat Joseph Parker on points at 17st 4lb.
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That was considered to be around his sweet spot until he was stunned to a first defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019.
Joshua was 17st 9lb before being dropped four times and stopped in seven rounds of his US debut in New York.
For the rematch – with his reputation on the line – he shrunk down to 16st 13lb to box and move his way to a career-saving victory.
Before Joshua suffered defeat again, to Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021, he claimed his weight was the least of his worries.
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He said: “I don’t really focus on my weight. It’s just training. I just put in the work.”
Joshua was 17st 2lb the first time against Usyk and put on just 4lb for the rematch, which he also lost on points.
AJ then returned in April of 2023 against Jermaine Franklin and did so at an all-time heaviest 18st 3lb before winning by decision.
Joshua went back down to 17st and 12lb before knocking out Robert Helenius in August.
And for his most recent win, a five-round stoppage of Otto Wallin, he did so at 17st 13lb.
Ngannou meanwhile scaled 19st 3lb before his boxing debut against Tyson Fury in October.
The ex-UFC champion even floored Fury only to lose a controversial split-decision.
And even AJ’s promoter and biggest supporter Eddie Hearn fears the monster of a man.
Hearn told SunSport: “When you’re that strong, you can change a fight at any given moment.
“You can be dominating a fight for five or six rounds and walk into one, and a fight can be over.
“This is probably the most nervous I’ve been for a fight because it’s a little bit of the unknowns about Ngannou.
“I’m looking at him like, ‘Can you even hurt him? Can you push him back?’
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“He’s just a freak of nature, but I still stand by the fact that AJ is better in every single department, and he’s got to show it on Friday.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
