Joshua (17st 4lbs 2oz) and Parker (16st 12lbs
7oz)
Anthony Joshua's weigh-in result is a calculated
plot to deprive Joseph Parker of his biggest hope
to win Saturday's fight, writes James Dielhenn.
The goal for the travelling fighter was to find
Joshua inside his comfort zone, unconcerned
with his steadily increasing muscle mass and
susceptible to tiring. Instead, a newly-improved
Joshua stood just marginally heavier than Parker
whose claim to possess a speed advantage will
now be thoroughly examined.
Joshua was two pounds shy of a stone lighter
than his last fight, against Carlos Takam, which
was the second consecutive time he weighed-in
at his career-heaviest.
There has been a dignified acceptance over the
past few weeks and months that Joshua was too
heavy against Takam, operating above his
optimum weight having breached the colossal
18st mark. Previously against Wladimir Klitschko,
the accusation was that Joshua tired before
staging his comeback.
Team Joshua have grinned and brushed off the
importance of their weigh-in measurements but
his significant trim down to 17st 4lbs points at a
concerted effort to arrive in a more efficient
condition.
Parker is two inches shorter and not as naturally
muscular but the speed of his hands and upper
body is worlds away from Takam, whose style
allowed Joshua to be heavier and therefore
stronger.
Anthony Joshua's previous weigh-in results
Joseph Parker's previous weigh-in results
"You will see I will be a lot sharper. My reflexes
will be sharper and my speed will be much
sharper," Joshua said on Friday.
The acceptance that he needed to tweak his
approach, not to mention the dedication required
in the gym to build his new physique correctly, is
an impressive indicator that Joshua knows he
hasn't yet reached the top of the mountain. It
also suggests he knows Parker's smaller,
speedier style is dangerous and has adapted to
ruthlessly remove his opponent's perceived
advantage.
"Us being close in weight makes me think he is
taking it seriously," said Parker. "We are similar,
we will both be fast tomorrow and throwing
bombs."
Parker's abs were not the most impressive at
the weigh-in (whose are better than Joshua's?)
but they might have been the most noteworthy.
The New Zealander has also carved himself into
a shape unrecognisable from his past three
outings, his hat-trick of WBO title fight wins,
dating back 18 months.
He is lighter than he has been in years,
noticeably around the midriff which they
admitted needed to improve despite winning and
defending a world title. Parker's admission to
having elbow surgery last December makes you
wonder if he is finally operating at a physical
peak that he wasn't able to achieve last year.
There is a quiet menace about Parker this week
in Cardiff. His promoter David Higgins has added
occasionally hilarious interludes but, beneath
that, there is a chilling intensity that they know
something the rest of us don't.
A Haka on enemy turf was a show of strength
from Parker
The Haka at the weigh-in will have gritted
Joshua's teeth, rather than widened his eyes, but
it was a collective stamp of the foot from
Parker's camp. They are not here for a bit-part in the Joshua stadium tour.
Both heavyweight champions confidently faced off but one of their broad smiles is the result of a naivety that comes from not having fought each other yet. On Saturday, we find out whose.
