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WBA and IBF heavyweight titleholder Anthony Joshua is looking to come in lighter than he has for recent fights when he faces WBO titleholder Joseph Parker on March 31 in Cardiff, Wales, and promoter Eddie Hearn says the goal is looking good so far.
“From the day after his Takam fight, all he has been thinking about is how he can improve, get a bit leaner, improve the jab, improve the footwork. He is obsessed with improvement.
”I watched him spar 12 rounds last week. His footwork is so much better - he is gliding on his feet, he has got faster hands. He is so meticulous in camp, like nothing I’ve ever seen.
”He is lighter and started camp earlier so they aren’t having to exhaust him. He is working hard, but much smarter. So far, this is the best camp he’s had. Coming in lighter, he feels great.”
Hearn says that Joshua (20-0, 20 KO) weighed in recently at 245 pounds, which would be nine pounds lighter than he was last October against Carlos Takam, and five pounds lighter than he was against Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017.