ANTHONY JOSHUA is bulking back up to his brutal best in a bid to bowl over Kubrat Pulev.
The unified heavyweight champion faces Pulev this Saturday in a IBF mandatory defence.
Anthony Joshua is bulking back up to his brutal best[/caption]
It comes a year after he dramatically slimmed down to outbox Andy Ruiz Jr and reclaim his titles – having lost them six months prior.
But AJ appears to have beefed up in preparation for Pulev, giving the first clue to how he may approach the fight tactically.
Here SunSport runs down Joshua’s last four fights and what he weighed beforehand.
Joseph Parker, March 2018
Joshua dropped down to 17st 4lb for his unification against New Zealand’s Parker, a slick and speedy operator.
And his decision to come in lighter paid off as he went 12 rounds for the first time on the way to winning the WBO belt.
Joshua dropped his usually aggressive and attack-minded approach to box clever and outpoint Parker.
At the time, it was AJ’s lightest weight in four years.
Joshua dropped down to 17st 4lb for his unification against Joseph Parker[/caption]
Alexander Povetkin, September 2018
Povetkin was outweighed by TWO STONE when he travelled to Wembley Stadium, as Joshua tipped the scales 17st 8lb.
Knowing he had a size and height advantage, AJ came in slightly heavier to try and impose his frame.
But he actually started the fight slow, as Povetkin wobbled him in the opening rounds in what were nervy stages for the champ.
As the action got into the later rounds, Joshua came on strong and knocked Povetkin out in the seventh.
Joshua tipped the scales 17st 8lb against Alexander Povetkin [/caption]
Andy Ruiz Jr, June 2019
Joshua came in at 17st 7lb ahead of his US debut against Andy Ruiz Jr – who replaced drug cheat Jarrell Miller.
Ruiz on the other hand came in sizably heavier as he weighed 19st 2lb, but was still a 25/1 underdog.
Despite scoring a knockdown in round three, AJ was twice dropped himself in the same session.
He hit the floor two more times on the way to losing in the seventh, capping off a remarkable upset for Ruiz.
Andy Ruiz Jr, December 2019
Understanding he needed to avoid a trade off and box on the back foot, Joshua slimmed down to 16st 13lb.
It was the lightest he had ever weighed for a world title fight, while Ruiz astonishingly ballooned up to 20st.
The tactical shift in pounds paid dividends for AJ, who outsmarted Ruiz over 12 rounds.
Joshua won back the WBA, IBF and WBO titles as he put his career on the line in what was a must-win rematch.
Joshua slimmed down to 16st 13lb when he rematched Ruiz [/caption]
Kubrat Pulev, December 2020
Joshua will weigh in ahead of his return to the ring on Friday, revealing the true extent of his body transformation.
But it looks as though he has put on some size, a clue that he could swap back foot boxing tactics for a more rugged approach against Pulev.
AJ was meant to face the Bulgarian in 2017 before Carlos Takam filled in as a replacement following an injury.
Joshua beat Takam at a career heaviest 18st 2lb, a sign that he was in fact putting on mass to take on Pulev, before the last-minute change.
It looks as though Joshua has put on some size[/caption]
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
