Anthony Joshua v Jermaine Franklin: Briton weighs in at career-heavy 18st 3lb for Saturday's fight

Anthony Joshua weighed successful astatine a vocation heaviest for the fight

Anthony Joshua has weighed successful astatine a career-heavy 18st 3lb (115.7kg) for Saturday's contention against Jermaine Franklin astatine London's O2 Arena.

"I've got my gameplan, got my caput close and I'm acceptable to spell for war," said the bulked-up Briton.

American Franklin, 29, weighed 16st 7lb (106.1kg) - 23lb lighter than erstwhile helium mislaid to Dillian Whyte successful November.

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Joshua targets 'explosive knockout'

A heavier Joshua suggests helium could beryllium targeting a knockout win, utilizing his added value and strength. When helium is lighter, that often indicates helium is prepared for a bout to spell the distance.

His erstwhile heaviest value was 18st 2lb (115.6kg) erstwhile helium stopped Carlos Takam successful the 10th circular successful 2017.

"I cognize I've got the anticipation of doing it," Joshua said of a knockout. "But there's a process to get there. I conscionable travel the process."

The Watford-fighter has shown signs of fatigue successful aboriginal rounds of erstwhile title fights - and determination has been overmuch statement surrounding his value successful caller years.

After losing to Andy Ruiz Jr successful June 2016, Joshua came successful astatine 16st 13lb (103.5kg) for the rematch and outboxed the Mexican-American implicit 12 rounds.

Jermaine Franklin was overmuch lighter than his past combat against Dillian Whyte

Joshua, who based his campy for this combat successful Texas, has spoken of the gruelling methods nether caller trainer Derrick James.

"There's ever an over-analysis with his weight, but intelligibly he's travel successful with atrocious intentions for this fight," said promoter Eddie Hearn. "In immoderate fights, wherever you request velocity and agility, helium comes successful lighter. But time nighttime I deliberation you're going to get an explosive knockout." Franklin - for each his attributes, resilience and durability - is not considered a technically-astute boxer. With 14 knockouts successful 21 wins, nor is helium needfully considered a dense hitter.

The Michigan boxer has shed the pounds and, astatine Wednesday's quality conference, helium credited his improved physique to a healthier lifestyle.

"We've approached this combat with a full caller attitude, a full caller demeanour, a full caller strategy," said Franklin.

"He astir apt bulked up a small spot but we're acceptable for whatever. We've got a chin of steal."

No drama, nary contention - Analysis

Such is the propulsion of Joshua, determination was nary venue adjacent to the O2 Arena large capable to woody with the fig of radical anxious to drawback a glimpse of the two-time satellite champion.

Instead, Westfield London buying centre successful Shepherd's Bush was the chosen location.

Fans lined up connected the balconies overlooking the atrium, joined by shoppers passing by, oregon radical evading the rainfall outside.

Franklin's friends and household made their voices heard arsenic helium took to the signifier and Joshua followed, to immense cheers.

A confident-looking Joshua fist-bumped promoter Eddie Hearn and saluted the crowd.

There was nary existent play oregon contention - and Joshua volition anticipation that is the lawsuit connected Saturday nighttime arsenic helium bids for victory.

The unit is connected the 2012 Olympic golden medallist to present a knockout performance. His heavyweight rivals volition beryllium watching - and the British nationalist volition beryllium expecting.