Joshua in his first pro fight in 2013 against Emanuele Leo (L) compared to Friday’s weigh-in (R)

Joshua’s professional debut vs Emanuele Leo – 20 November 2013

Over a year after he won Olympic gold in his home city, Joshua made his professional debut at the 02 Arena against undefeated Italian Emanuele Leo.

Joshua was impressive on his professional debut, knocking out his unbeaten opponent

As he did with all his opponents throughout the first two years of his career, AJ knocked his opponent out inside three rounds – on outing number one, the first bell did not even ring.

The pre-fight weigh-in showed both men come in a tad over 16st 6lbs – in the end, it was the only similarity between the two as Joshua kick-started his career with aplomb.

Joshua’s LIGHTEST ever weight vs Hrvoje Kisicek – 14 November 2013

Just three weeks later, and Joshua was back for his third fight – this time at York Hall in London.

He was up against Croat Hrvoje Kisicek, and won via technical knockout in the second round.

Joshua celebrates after beating Hrvoje Kisicek in 2013, at his lowest weight of 16st 5lbs

However, this fight is significant because Joshua weighed in at 16st 5lbs – and he has not come in lighter since.

Joshua’s HEAVIEST weight against Carlos Takam – 28 October 2017

Joshua, now a world champion after defeating Charles Martin a year earlier, tipped the scales at his heaviest-ever weight ahead of his showdown in Cardiff with Carlos Takam.

His first fight after his famous 11th-round victory against Wladmir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium, the then-28-year-old weighed in at 18st 2lbs.

Joshua recorded his heaviest ever weight for his knockout win against Carlos Takam in 2017

Not that the extra pounds seemed to effect his performance – Takam was dogged and evasive for much of the fight, but the Brit found his range in round-10 to take his career record to 19 wins, 19 knockouts.

Joshua’s first defeat, vs Andy Ruiz Jr – 1 June 2019

The shock of the boxing decade. Joshua was a huge favourite going into his first fight on foreign soil, as he took on late-replacement and 25-1 underdog Andy Ruiz Jr. in Madison Square Garden, New York.

Joshua weighed in at 17st 9lbs ahead of the fight in New York, with Ruiz coming in over a stone heavier at 19st 2lbs.

Obviously, by now we know the rest, and the famous photos of Ruiz’s frame jumping up and down in glorious victory – after flooring Joshua four times – will no doubt still be etched in the minds of boxing pundits and fans alike.

Anthony Joshua was the slimmer man in New York but was outdone by Ruiz’s quick speed

Ruiz jumps for joy after the referee called off the fight in June, for one of boxing’s great shocks

The rematch, Ruiz vs Joshua 2 – 7 December 2019

To Saturday’s rematch… and boy did Friday’s weigh in spring some surprises.

Joshua tipped the scales at 16st 13lbs – his lightest weight in five years since beating Denis Bakhtov, and his lightest in a world title fight.

Ruiz, on the other hand, to the bemusement of many, weighed in even heavier than his mass figure in New York – 15lbs heavier in fact, at 20st 3lbs.

Joshua came in 10lbs lighter than his previous fight with Ruiz, tipping the scales at 16st 13lbs

There is over 3st between the fighters on this occasion, with Ruiz coming in at 20st 3lbs

In the buildup to the fight, the Mexican repeatedly showed off his improved training regime, insisting he would come in lighter than the New York fight.

Instead, there is over 3st between the pair, and whether it was mind games or not it sure was a surprise at Friday’s weigh-in.

Nevertheless, the proof of the pudding, so to speak, will simply come on Saturday night. Will the weight gap make a difference to either fighter? Can Ruiz upset the odds again? Does Joshua have a new game-plan up his sleeve?

Come fight night, we will find out.