The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Boxing: Joshua and Klitschko ready to rumble.
Boxing: Briton at his heaviest for Wembley showdown against Klitschko
Anthony Joshua weighed a career-heaviest 17st 12lb 10oz as he dismissed as a lie challenger Wladimir Klitschko’s claim the reason their Wembley fight is so big is because of him.
Klitschko, who was 10lb lighter at 17st 2lb 6oz, continued his attempts to get into the IBF heavyweight champion’s mind by insisting tonight’s fight – which is expected to be attended by a British boxing postwar record crowd of 90,000 – is “my event”.
The 41-year-old remains the most decorated heavyweight of his era but his career could be defined or ended by the outcome of his attempts to again win the IBF and WBA titles, and he said: “This is my event, even if it’s his home.
“The majority – not everyone but the majority – are his supporters, I totally get it, but I’m taking it as my event, my night, my fight, my ring, my win.
“If you’re focusing on someone else, you’re totally losing it. Mind games, whatever: focus on yourself. I’m focused on myself and I’m comfortable with myself. I don’t care how that’s going to be received by my opponent.
“I just feel like saying things and doing things the way I want to do it. I’m the man, this is my event, and I’m the winner, already, before the fight. I am.
“I don’t know if it’s stupid or smart (that I’ve made a video recording of my fight prediction). I’m extremely confident: comfortable and confident.
“I would say I’ve done it all, there’s always something new that you learn, but I’m focused, concentrated, maybe nervous, but very confident and very comfortable.”
Joshua, 27, has consistently been relaxed and confident throughout this fight’s near-five-month build-up and asked about the Ukrainian’s comments, he said: “Lie. Lie. He thinks it’s about him? It takes two to tango.
“It’s a defining fight for him, isn’t it? April 29 is a lot, because when he gets beaten, that could be the end of him. That’s why it’s so defining, but what represents him doesn’t represent me, this is just a part of my journey.
“If he claims to be a better boxer, so be it. When I start punching you in the jaw, you best stand up to my power.
“He’ll probably start fast because he won’t be able to keep up the pace. Father Time is a genetical thing, it’s something no one can deny.
“Around 2005 was the good, sharp, Wladimir: throwing more punches. Now hard work has to become smart work as you get older.
“I’m more hard work than smart work, and that’s why I don’t mind fighting Wladimir, because I know, whichever type of fight it is, if it gets tough, I will slug it out.”
Joshua’s previous careerheaviest came in 2015 against Inverness’ Gary Cornish, when he was 0.75lb lighter and won inside a round. Klitschko was 5.5lb heavier for his defeat by Tyson Fury in November 2015 and was last as light against Ruslan Chagaev when he won via a ninthround stoppage in 2009.