Unified Heavyweight World Champion Anthony Joshua tipped the scales at a career-high 254 pounds and IBF mandatory challenger Carlos Takam measured 235 ½ pounds for their heavyweight showdown tomorrow night on Showtime in the US and Sky PPV in the UK.
The Showtime telecast begins live at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT from sold-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff where an estimated 78,000 fans will converge for the largest indoor event in boxing history.
Joshua, who went past the 10th round for the first time with a sensational knockout of Wladimir Klitschko on April 29, promised conditioning wasn’t an issue.
“I’ve been doing a lot more running. Maybe I’m starting to fill out as I get older and I’m starting to find my natural weight,” Joshua said. “Who knows what it is. I definitely feel a lot fitter than I have in previous fights.”
The referee for Saturday’s contest is Phil Edwards and the judges scoring ringside are Michael Alexander (England), Pawel Kardyni (Poland) and Ron McNair (New York).
If Joshua’s previous 19 bouts are any indication, the judges might not be necessary.
“I’m not going to say I’m going to knock him out and smash him up and all these types of things,” said Joshua, who has knocked out all of his professional opponents en route to unifying the heavyweight division. “But that’s what I have to do.”
Running order
17:05 | 6 x 3 mins Cruiserweight contest
LAWRENCE OKOLIE v ADAM WILLIAMS
(Hackney) (Manchester)
Followed by
6 x 3 mins Light-Heavyweight contest
JOSHUA BUATSI v SAIDOU SALL
(Croydon) (France)
Followed by
18:05 | 12 x 3 mins British Light-Heavyweight Championship
FRANK BUGLIONI 12st 6 ½ lbs v CRAIG RICHARDS 12st 5lbs
(Winchmore Hill) (Crystal Palace)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins WBA Super-Flyweight Championship
KAL YAFAI 8st 2 ½ lbs v SHO ISHIDA 8st 2 ½ lbs
(Birmingham) (Osaka, Japan)
Followed by
10 x 2 mins WBA Lightweight World Championship
ANAHI SANCHEZ 9st 10lbs* v KATIE TAYLOR 9st 8 ½ lbs
(Argentina) (Bray)
*Sanchez failed to make the weight – the WBA World Lightweight title is vacant tomorrow night and only Taylor can win the belt.
Followed by
12 x 3 mins WBC Silver Heavyweight Championship
DILLIAN WHYTE 17st 9 ½ lbs v ROBERT HELENIUS 17st 10 ½ lbs
(Brixton) (Finland)
Followed by
12 x 3 mins IBF, WBA & IBO Heavyweight Championship
ANTHONY JOSHUA 18st 2lbs v CARLOS TAKAM 16st 11 ½ lbs
(Watford) (France)
FLOAT | 8 x 3 mins Lightweight contest
JOE CORDINA 9st 8 ½ lbs v LESTER CANTILLANO 9st 6lbs
(Cardiff) (Barcelona)
FLOAT | 6 x 3 Heavyweight contest
DAVE ALLEN v SCOTT SAWARD
(Conisborough) (Erith)