EDDIE HEARN dismissed the suggestion that Anthony Joshua was looking'smaller' in preparation for his clash with Oleksandr Uzyk.
For his defence of the Ukrainian unified heavyweight title at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, September 25, the Watford fighter is looking trimmer.
Anthony Joshua looks lean and mean in preparation for his showdown against Oleksandr Usyk
Hearn, Matchroom Boxing's chief boxer, has denied that AJ has lost too many pounds. He told Pep Talk UK: "He does not look small to me.
"He looks massive. To be completely honest, he looks like an absolute unit.
His legs are powerful and strong and he moves fast. It's not a matter of 'I'm going down in weight' when they're there. What is my current weight?
Hearn believes Joshua's smaller frame can be attributed to his decision to stop lifting heavy and concentrate more on the basics of sweet science.
He said, "The difference between Joshua's training over the years is that he has gone from being a guy who was lifting weights and doing lots of power stuff to one that is boxing.
"More sparring means more time on your feet, in the ring, on the pads and on the bag.
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"Before, his explosiveness was extraordinary, but after the tank was empty how can you get through those championship rounds?"
"When he fought Dillian [Whyte], [Charles] Martin and [Wladimir] Klitschko he didn’t know what he was doing.
"He was strong, big, and tough, with good fundamentals.
"Now, he is well-rounded and knows the game.
"This makes it so much harder to beat."
Joshua has lost some of his trademark muscle mass in preparation to take on 12 rounds with the smaller, more agile Usyk.
Sky Sports interviewed him: "I do take into consideration my weight, but I'm not trying lose weight because I'm a heavyweight."
"I customize my training. I have a lot of experience. I've been fighting great fighters for a while, and I've learned about their training camps.
"I have learned how to prepare my body for certain fights. This fight is going to be a tough one for me.
"I am fighting a 12-round fighter. It would be foolish of me to go into the ring bulky and my muscles screaming for oxygen.
"I have been training in this camp like a fighter for 15 rounds. I'm well-conditioned for fighting. This is the key.
What happens when I train this way? My body adapts to the environment and takes its natural form. This is the body it has taken."
AJ enjoys his Tottenham tussle against his London 2012 Olympian rival, saying: "The date has been set and we are fully locked into.
"September 25, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. I put it all on line again, and it's now time to defend my crown.
"We are two Olympic gold medallists, who have fought to the top and never given up on challenges.
"The stadium is extraordinary, the atmosphere will electric, it's an honor to be the first to fight in such a awe-inspiring location."
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