Anthony Joshua’s bid to reclaim his titles and reinforce his reputation in boxing’s heavyweight division takes him to Saudi Arabia where, on Saturday night, he faces Andy Ruiz in a rematch.
Ruiz stunned the world at New York’s Madison Square Garden in July and Joshua has taken up the option of a rematch.
At Friday’s weigh-in, Ruiz came in a stone heavier than that night in July while Joshua tipped the scales at 16st, 13lbs – his lightest ever weight for a world-title fight.
But what else could be told about the mindset of the two fighters before Saturday’s clash? Body language expert JUDI JAMES cast her eye over proceedings and gave her analysis to Sportsmail
JOSHUA LOOKED TENSE… BUT RUIZ WAS NERVOUS
Joshua’s body language might have had a very outward air of tension, making him look understandably rattled after his last fight with Ruiz, but in terms of subtler and maybe more potent signs of nervousness I’d award this one to Ruiz, whose subliminal signals hinted he might actually be feeling the pressure more than Joshua, despite having less to prove in their re-match.
Joshua did his signature ‘zoning’ look, wearing headphones and an impassive expression as he posed up on the stage. He faced front and it was probably his blankly-staring eyes and closed lips that made him look like a man in need of some motivating and reassurance.
Ruiz might have looked more like the guy who had popped in on his way to a party in his Mexican hat, black vest and baggy tracksuit bottoms, and his half-smile suggested he was enjoying himself and looking forward to the fight, but there were at least three crucial non-verbal signals that suggested he was sitting on a generous portion of nerves.
