Anthony Joshua has weighed in the heaviest of his fight career for his comeback bout against Jermaine Franklin.
Both headliners of the Matchroom and DAZN card took to the scales ahead of their twelve-round heavyweight contest.
Joshua, showing off the muscle-bound physique fans are used to, weighed in at 255.4lb – a career highest and over 10lb heavier than his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk. The big man from Watford is here looking for the 23rd stoppage of his career.
His American opponent tipped the scales at 234.1lb – 23 pounds lighter than his loss to Dillian Whyte in November last year. He gives away over 20lb to the home fighter.
⚖️ WEIGH-IN@anthonyjoshua vs @JermaineFrankl6#JoshuaFranklin | DAZN pic.twitter.com/8YtdnVyaof
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) March 31, 2023
‘AJ’ always waves off any intense scrutiny of his weight, pointing out that he arrives at whatever number his training camp throws up. His last contest in this venue – a 2016 TKO win over Dominic Breazeale – saw him fight at 243lb. A brief jump up into the 250s for Wladimir Klitschko and Carlo Takam were his former career highests.
Franklin presents a trimmer figure than he did in the Dillian Whyte bout last November – the benefits of a dedicated training camp and the magnitude of the opportunity here. He fought around 240lb before a hiatus from the sport between 2019 and 2022 saw him return at 277lb against Rodney Moore one fight before Whyte.
👀 THE FINAL FACE-OFF @anthonyjoshua vs @JermaineFrankl6#JoshuaFranklin | 📍 @theo2pic.twitter.com/ERwF85cOUF
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) March 31, 2023
It’s the final time the pair will face off before meeting inside the ropes. The fight presents a distinct moment in each man’s career.
For Franklin, an upset win changes the trajectory of a campaign that has been frustratingly on and off. Defeat isn’t the end, but it will be 0 for 2 in the UK against the division’s top names.
Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have been clear that a loss here is a big problem. Whilst ‘AJ’ is expected to win and do so in style, that’s been the case before.
A win puts the two-time champion back on track for big fights, with the likes of Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce mentioned already. With the formalities now ticked off, all eyes turn to a sold-out O2 Arena tomorrow night.