Anthony Joshua weighs in 10lbs heavier than Wladimir Klitschko ahead of Wembley showdown

THE weigh in for the world heavyweight championship super fight at Wembley Stadium has produced a sensation of its own.

Anthony Joshua hit the scales heavier than Wladimir Klitschko by almost 10lbs.

Klitschko, the Ukrainian who dominated heavyweight boxing for a decade before losing all of this titles to Tyson Fury, is clearly going for unusual speed against Britain’s muscular IBF title holder and fabled knockout puncher.

Although his torso, biceps and shoulder were rippling with extra muscles, Joshua weighed in only a pound or so heavier than his previous heaviest of 250.2lbs

The shock was that Klitschko, although now 41, came in half a stone lighter than his usual fighting weight, at 240.6lbs.

Although Klitschko is on record as saying: ‘My anticipation beats his speed,’ he has prepared himself to produce faster hands and fleeter movement.

A crowd of some 2,000 in the Wembley Arena, adjacent to the stadium which will hold the British record crowd of 90,000 this Saturday night, were told by Joshua that he would not necessarily go for the quick-fire KO which has been predicted.

He said: ‘In a fight at this level I go round by round and then take advantage of the opening if one present itself.’

When Klitschko saw Joshua at the preceding open workouts, he said: ‘I’ve never seen Anthony this big. He looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his body building prime.’

Although the majority present were cheering for the hometown Joshua, there was vocal support for Klitschko also.

The surprise on the scales may affect the betting odds which have been favouring Joshua narrowly at just under 1/2, with Klitschko at a little less than 2/1.

JOSHUA POST WEIGH-IN INTERVIEW

How does this fight go down?

I’m only going to be myself. The fight is as big as it can be. People want to see a good undercard. There’s Olympians on there, then you’ve got the heavyweight clash. There’s belts on the line. There’s legacy on the line. There’s 12 rounds of intense, ferocious boxing on the line. It comes with everything you want to see. Boxing skills, power, timing – it’s just how long you can last and withstand each other’s abilities.

Are you looking for a knock-out?

You’ve got to take this fight round-by-round. That’s boxing. Sooner or later one wears down. The other one realises their weakness, then you put on the pressure. It depends if I see that opportunity. My main focus is to focus round-by-round on a 12-round fight.

 

Has he got under your skin?

I don’t hate Klitschko, I don’t dislike Klitschko, but I want to beat Klitschko. It’s a boxing match, I’m competitive and that’s all it is.

When do you switch on?

I’ve been switched on since December 10, in the back of my mind, even though I wasn’t training after the fight. I knew what was going to come. Naturally I’ve been preparing myself for this moment. I can relax, mentally I’ve been through many different processed with how I’ll approach the fight.

Is it your hardest test?

You never know how the fight will go. This could be an easy fight, or I could go out there and something could happen and then maybe a fight that wasn’t supposed to be so hard could become harder. All I have to do is make this fight as easy as possible and win in good fashion.

Can you enjoy the occasion?

With boxing you seem to enjoy it after. When you’re competing, it’s tunnel vision. You’re really focused and then you absorb all the atmosphere maybe when that final bells goes. For me, every time I’ve fought, even though there’s so many people supporting myself – I have to stay tunnel vision and then I embrace everyone when we do meet and greets.

I do public runs to give something back. For now it’s tunnel vision, I hope you understand.

What is your prediction?

It’s going to cost you a billion pounds!

Your final thoughts?

What more can I say. Punch lands, another punch lands, you miss, it’s simple. Anyone in this room can become champion. It’s not rocket science. You just have to have a bit of heart and determination, and then that can go far. Someone is going to win and someone is going to continue with their carer and I’m very confident that’s me.

 

SOURCE: DAILYMAIL