• Joshua: ‘For heavyweights the weigh-in doesn’t really matter’
Anthony Joshua, his body again looking as if it could have been sculpted by Phidias, weighed in at his lightest since 2014 for Saturday night’s WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight title rematch against Andy Ruiz Jr. But while a slimline Joshua tipped the scales at 16st 13lb, 10lbs less than he was for the pair’s first meeting in June, Ruiz came in at a gargantuan 20st 3lb – 15lb more than six months ago when he shocked the world at Madison Square Garden.
Only the Russian Nikolai Valuev has ever weighed more for a world heavyweight title fight – and he was seven feet tall. But Joshua, who strolled to the scales looking relaxed with headphones on and chewing gum, said he is at no risk of becoming complacent despite his opponent looking out of shape.
Written by Sean Ingle in Riyadh
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/06/anthony-joshua-andy-ruiz-rematch-weight-not-important under the title “Anthony Joshua insists Andy Ruiz’s burgeoning weight not important”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
