At yesterday’s lively weigh-in for today’s heavyweight clash between former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, and ex-UFC champion, Francis Ngannou, the Cameroonian was almost a stone and a half heavier than the Briton with Nigerian ancestry.
The fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this evening, will be Ngannou’s second pro boxing bout. He weighed in at 19st 6lb.
Two-time world champion Joshua weighed 18st as the pair rounded off what has been a civil fight week build-up.
“Official prediction? I deliver, I’m the postman,” Joshua said.
The 34-year-old dismantled Otto Wallin in Riyadh three months ago and is looking for a fourth win in the space of 11 months.
Nganou, 37, comes in two pounds heavier than when he almost shocked the world in his boxing debut as he took WBC champion Tyson Fury to the wire in October.
“This is just my second boxing match, even though I am taking on the two best guys in the world in boxing,” Ngannou said.
“I am going in there to prove that you can be the underdog and make it and stand my ground.”
What has been a quiet build-up picked up a day out from fight night, courtesy of travelling Ngannou fans.
About 100 or so of the French-Cameroonian’s supporters were in attendance as the sound of vuvuzela horns drowned out chants of ‘Oh Anthony Joshua’ around the Greek amphitheatre setting.
Announcer Michael Buffer introduced the two fighters as the likes of hall of fame star Manny Pacquiao watched on. Pyrotechnics shot up behind the two big men as the theme tune to the Rocky film played out.
Watford-born Joshua weighed just 3lb lighter than his career heaviest. As he has done throughout fight week, he kept his words to a minimum. He thanked God, said the energy in the air was good and that he respected his opponent.
Ngannou, meanwhile, was a bit more boisterous.
“Sometimes it makes me laugh a little bit because I know OK, we are going to fight in boxing rules, but what happens if it was fight or MMA rules, I would smoke those guys,” he said.
The jury is still undecided on Ngannou’s boxing ability, adding an extra layer of intrigue to Friday’s headliner.
He tore up the script four months ago, having done enough in just 10 rounds against Fury to convince Joshua and others that he is a legitimate boxer.
“There is no real expectation on Ngannou and that can make him a dangerous and a formidable opponent,” British heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley told BBC Sport.
“He was composed against Fury. He showed he could boss the fight at times, could put his punches together, and is obviously a very tough and durable man as well.”
On the flip side, there are those who feel the boxing world is getting carried away.
“He has only had one fight. He did well but styles make fights and everyone, including Fury, underestimated him,” Wallin, Joshua’s last opponent, said.
