Friday 30 March 2018 14:34, UK
All eyes will be on Anthony Joshua at today's weigh-in and The Panel of experts debate whether he needed to shed pounds for the Joseph Parker fight.
The WBA 'super' and IBF heavyweight champion is expected to have a leaner physique for Saturday's unification clash with WBO title-holder Parker in Cardiff, live on Sky Sports Box Office, after coming in at his career heaviest for his latest world title win over Carlos Takam.
With Parker expected to weigh-in lighter himself, how much scrutiny should be placed on Joshua when he steps on the scales?
Weight has never been an issue. I wouldn't make weight the main factor of what I've been working on in this camp. It hasn't been like a Weight Watchers camp for three months.
I've been working on technique and stuff like that, rather than worrying so much about my weight.
I've been working on technique and stuff like that, rather than worrying so much about my weight. In terms of how I'm feeling, in terms of my weight, I'm comfortable.
If he trusted in his body, he wouldn't be trying to change who he is.
If he trusted in his body, he wouldn't be trying to change who he is.
He's trying to be faster and leaner - I don't know if he is trying to be him or me? We will be lighter. Faster, stronger, better movement.
Let's be honest, everyone would rather watch Josh banging people out with hurtful, heavy shots and there's always an argument for him to go in heavy, stamp his authority at the weight and tell Parker: 'I am not just a heavyweight, I am a big, strong heavyweight - too big, too strong and too good for you'.
If Josh were to go in over 18st, I could see him struggling down the stretch, if those shots don't get Parker out of there.
But we know Parker is fit and has a high-work rate, if Josh were to go in over 18st, I could see him struggling down the stretch, if those shots don't get Parker out of there. He might have to work with Parker and use his skill not just his strength, so the closer to 17st the better.
I'd just leave him to be whatever he wants to be. As you mature, you get heavier. We saw Lennox Lewis get heavier as he got older.
Joshua isn't in his early-20s anymore, where he was developing. He's coming into his prime so he will get heavier.
He will come in lighter for this fight, purely because the opponent is light, sharp and nimble.
He will come in lighter for this fight, purely because the opponent is light, sharp and nimble. That will make Anthony adjust his game-plan.
The weight [against Carlos Takam] didn't do him any favours. The week of that fight, when he took his foot off the pedal due to the change of opponent, that was the problem. The extra weight he put on slowed him down.
We've seen him after sparring at 17st 1lbs and maybe that's his optimum weight. That weight won't be easy for Joshua to stay around, but that could be his best weight.
Parker will be a mover, and light on his feet, so Joshua can't afford to be flat-footed and slow and musclebound. We've seen him after sparring at 17st 1lbs and maybe that's his optimum weight.
That weight won't be easy for Joshua to stay around, but that could be his best weight.
I think Anthony Joshua knows that he came in a little too heavy last time. He looked a bit too bulky. From the video footage I've seen of him in training, he looks like he's trimmed down quite a bit, and he looks more athletic, more mobile, and that's a real good move, because in this fight he's going to need that.
I think people are going to be surprised by how light he does come in.
[Parker's] physique reminds me of a 1970s sort of heavyweight and his movement, he's quite nimble, he's quite quick.
Joshua is going to have little bit more sharpness about him. It looks like he is going to come in lighter. I think people are going to be surprised by how light he does come in, because I don't think he will be anywhere close to where he was last time.
Joshua needs to be a lot lighter. He needs to lose weight. It's easy for me to say that - look at him, then look at me!
He needs to lose weight. It's easy for me to say that - look at him, then look at me!
If you're heavy, in any walk of life, you can't perform. When I've been two stone overweight I struggle to get up the stairs. As a professional boxer being fit at your optimum weight is the most important thing (apart from knowing how to box!)
I've spoken to Rob McCracken and he says Joshua is in "really good shape" for this one, so maybe he will be coming in a little bit lighter. I don't expect it to be drastic, maybe a couple of pounds.
Everyone's got their optimum fighting weight and if you're few pounds over or under that, it is going to affect you.
Everyone's got their optimum fighting weight and if you're few pounds over or under that, it is going to affect you. Joshua is good but too heavier or a bit lighter, won't be ideal. I don't know what his best weight is but I after going in at 18st 2lbs against Carlos Takam, maybe five or six pounds lighter would be ideal.
It's not so much the weight, it's how you perform at that weight. Because it's all muscle and when he's ripped at 18st, a lot of oxygen gets burnt up. It means a lot of work for those muscles to do to just keep someone line Joshua going, never mind fighting at a pace.
When he's ripped at 18st, a lot of oxygen gets burnt up. It means a lot of work for those muscles to do.
I think the lighter he is, the better he is. For me, AJ's speed is one of his best assets and unlike a one-punch knock-out fighter like Wilder, he doesn't have that power. But his speed and his accuracy gives him that accumulative effect and I just think when he's heavier, he is that little bit slower and carting that huge body around does bring stamina issues in. He looks very lean and very mobile and I think that suits him, not the 18st we've seen him come in at before.
