Get the best offers including Joshua to win at 33/1. Anthony Joshua will enter the ring heavier than any time in his career yet
when he makes the latest defence of his WBA and IBF heavyweight titles on Saturday night against Carlos Takam.
Joshua tipped the scales at a career-heaviest 18st 2lbs at Friday's weigh-in, while Takam came in at 16st 11lbs.
It will be Joshua's first fight since he defeated Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April.
As well as securing his financial future, that victory also made him one of Britain's most popular figures, but far from revelling in that glory, the Olympic gold medallist is determined to move on.
Joshua is more than a stone heavier than his opponent Takam Credit: Getty Images Europe
"We're going to have to put that Klitschko win to the side at some stage," Joshua said during Thursday's press conference. "Boxing's unforgiving: that was that, this is now.
"Carlos is a completely different animal to Klitschko. In terms of style, technique and preparation, everything's completely different. My mindset's completely different, and it's going to be a completely different fight.
"It's not like this brings an ego. I keep my feet on the ground. I'm still grinding, I'm still hungry."
Joshua vs Takam | All you need to know about Saturday's fight
Eddie Hearn the pantomime villain
'Can we have a big cheer for Eddie Hearn, please?' ask Joshua. Jeers fill the room.
https://twitter.com/MatchroomBoxing/status/923901043389419520Face-off
No expletives or handbags between the pair, who clench fists and pose for the cameras.
Joshua:
Confident within myself, but never too over confident. Too much confidence can become a little cocky and that's when people can make mistakes and I don't want to make mistakes.
Weighing in a little heavier:
"I'd been starving myself.....Maybe I'm starting to fill out as I get older and find my natural weight? Who knows what it is, but I feel fitter than I have for any fight."
2:12PM
Joshua weighs-in at 18st 2lbs
Joshua very cool as he makes his way onto the stage, no frills or histrionics. A chant of 'OHHH ANTHONY JOSHUA' goes up in the crowd, because people have lost the ability to sign to a tune other than Seven Nation Army.
Carlos Takam on the scales, 16st 11 1/2 lbs. Joshua next, and he is in at 18st 2lbs! Heavier than he was for Klitschko but still looking lean. That's a significant weight and height advantage on Takam.
2:06PM
Michael Buffer takes the mic
The unmistakable lilt of Michael Buffer signals the start of the main event. They are on their way...
1:55PM
Taylor's opponent misses the weight
Olympic champions Katie Taylor to the stage, protecting a 6-0 undefeated professional record. Taylor in at 9st 8 1/2lbs and her opponent Anahi Sanchez, defending her WBA world title, is in at 9st and 10lbs. That's two pounds over the limit meaning she has two hours to weigh-in under that in order to make the fight legitimate. Time for a hot bath then...
https://twitter.com/SkySportsBoxing/status/923895709119799296/photo/1Just a few minutes until Joshua.
1:46PM
The body snatcher appears
Now it is time for Dillian Whyte vs Robert Helenius for the WBC Silver heavyweight title. Whyte's bout against Chisora on the undercard of Joshua-Klitschko was an epic slugfest. Helenius in at 17st 2 1/2lbs. Whyte in at 17st 9 1/2 lbs. It's all smiles and arm-slaps during the face-off, very tame stuff.
"I have the shazaam, I have the stuff," says Whyte.
1:42PM
We're getting closer...
Sky Sports' Adam Smith in conference with Eddie Hearn on stage. And after an interlude of around five minutes or so...no sign of Joshua yet.
1:34PM
Hometown fighter
Rapturous reception for the Cardiff-born Joe Cordina, he's in at 9st 8 1/2lbs.
1:29PM
The main event approaching...
WBA world super-flyweight challenger Sho Ishada takes the stage and weighs-in at 8st 2lbs, before champion Kal Yafai tips the scales at 8st 2 1/2lbs so we're good to go tomorrow night.
1:26PM
Katie Taylor is on the under card
Joshua has supported Taylor all the way through her rise to the professional ranks, and she still has an unblemished record at pro-level. She takes on Anahi Esther for the WBA lightweight title.
1:23PM
British light heavyweight
Frank 'the Wise Guy' Buglioni weighs in at 12st 6lbs, and he will be fighting for the British light heavyweight title against Callum Johnson 'Spider' Richards makes the weight, and we have a contest.
1:17PM
Under card weigh-ins under way
The first fight on the card tomorrow night is a light-heavyweight fight between Saidou Sall, he's in at 12st 6 1/2 lbs, and south Londoner Joshua Buatsi, he's in at 12st 8lbs.
1:13PM
Running 15 minutes behind schedule
As you will see, the final preparations are being made ready for Joshua and Takam to emerge. What a year it's been for the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, hosting a world title fight as well as the Champions League final.
1:03PM
We are past the 1pm scheduled start
These events tend to run a little behind schedule as they try to build up the tension in the room. Almost as if Eddie Hearn does it on purpose.
Hopefully we're not in store another unadulterated shambles like the Carabao Cup draw yesterday.
12:55PM
Larry Holmes believes Joshua must eventually fight Tyson Fury
"If he doesn't beat Tyson Fury, it's going to be thrown up.
"'What about Tyson Fury? What about Tyson Fury?'. Everywhere you go, you're going to hear that name.
"So you take that name off the table. Get him. Challenge him. Put him on defence; you go offence.
"Tell them, 'In my next fight I want to fight Tyson Fury. Everyone's talking about Tyson Fury; let me have him. Give him. I'm ready now to sign the contract'."
12:47PM
Watch what AJ has to say about his pre-fight mentality
03:2748:13
12:43PM
Will the change of opponent knock the champ off his stride?
After the drama of Kubrat Pulev's withdrawal due to injury, fight-night is almost upon us as Joshua takes on Carlos Takam instead. A more-front footed opponent than Pulev, Joshua will have had to alter his training methods at short notice.
A glance at the bookmakers' odds though, suggests there is little chance of an upset.
12:35PM
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the weigh-in
Anthony Joshua intends to put his defeat of Wladimir Klitschko "to the side" when on Saturday he defends his WBA and IBF heavyweight titles against Carlos Takam.
The 28-year-old also insists the methods of his trainer Rob McCracken mean Takam replacing the injured Kubrat Pulev at late notice represents no additional threat.
Under the roof at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, in front of an expected crowd of 70,000 - a world record for a fight at an indoor arena - Joshua fights for the first time since establishing himself as the world's leading heavyweight.
April's dramatic stoppage defeat of Klitschko, the dominant heavyweight of the modern era, represented the finest night of his decorated career and could yet also prove his defining fight.
As well as securing his financial future, that victory also made him one of Britain's most popular figures, but far from revelling in that glory, the Olympic gold medallist is determined to move on.
Anthony Joshua goes through his paces Credit: PA
"We're going to have to put that Klitschko win to the side at some stage," Joshua said. "Boxing's unforgiving: that was that, this is now.
"Carlos is a completely different animal to Klitschko. In terms of style, technique and preparation, everything's completely different. My mindset's completely different, and it's going to be a completely different fight.
"It's not like this brings an ego. I keep my feet on the ground. I'm still grinding, I'm still hungry."
Saturday's fight, which comes 24 years after Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno fought for the WBC heavyweight title at Cardiff's National Stadium, takes place with Joshua and Takam having had less than a fortnight to prepare for each other following Pulev's withdrawal.
"My trainer Rob McCracken has always taught me to focus on myself, my own personal development, rather than the opponent," Joshua said.
"He's never trained me for just one style of opponent. Whether I was fighting Kubrat Pulev or Carlos Takam, he's adapted me and it's been about my own balance, footwork and technique. I've fought a lot of people like his style."
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