Eddie Hearn has confirmed his star fighter Anthony Joshua will be 'leaner' and 'lighter' for his upcoming title unification fight with Joseph Parker in March.

Joshua weighed in at 17st 12lbs for his super-fight with Wladimir Klitschko last April, and then came in even heavier for his October defence against Carlos Takam at 18st 2lbs.

But, Hearn is confident that 'AJ' will come into his next fight trimmer, but retaining his punching power. 

"I can't see him coming in more than 17st 8lbs or 17st 9lbs, which would be half-a-stone lighter than the last fight. Maybe he will be even lighter," stated Hearn.

"I was laughing with him, saying: 'you're worse than my wife - you're constantly on the scales checking your weight'.

"He feels amazing. I was on FaceTime with him and he got on the scales - he was 17st 7lbs on Sunday night. He'd had a weekend of replenishing.

"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."

WBO champion Parker weighed in at 17st 7lbs for his most recent bout, a win over Hughie Fury in Manchester, but his trainer Kevin Barry has also stated that his fighter will be trimmer going into the big bout.

"We'll come in lighter. I think it's very important that Joe is very fast on his feet and very mobile in this fight against Joshua," said Barry.

Joshua's aim in 2018 is to fully unify the heavyweight division. Beating Parker would be a start, but then the aim would most probably be to step into the ring with Deontay Wilder - providing he gets past the huge test of the Cuban 'King Kong' Luis Ortiz.

The two square off in New York this weekend, but Hearn knows that no bout is certain to happen in the boxing business, and has talked up the 'Big Baby' Jarrell Miller as a potential next clash for Joshua.

29-year-old Miller is also a fighter under Hearn's wing, and stopped Polish bruiser Mariusz Wach in his last fight.

"Anything could happen - Jarrell Miller could be beaten [by Johann Duhaupas], we might fight Deontay Wilder next, the WBA might call their mandatory. If we box in America and it's not Wilder, Miller will be the perfect guy," said Hearn.

"At some point the WBA will call a mandatory, I think this summer. I think we will have to fight Alexander Povetkin this year so it could be next.

"We will fight Povetkin - he is on the radar - and AJ isn't about to vacate any belts. He must become the undisputed champion."