Andy Ruiz vs Anthony Joshua 2: Challenger three stone lighter at weigh-in ahead of rematch

Joshua is at his lowest weight since 2014 for the heavyweight world title rematch

Anthony Joshua must overcome a weight disadvantage of more than three stone when he fights Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

Joshua, who suffered the first defeat of his professional career when he was sensationally stopped by Ruiz in June, has dropped almost a stone since the first fight, weighing-in at 16st 13lbs (237lbs).

It is the lowest he has ever weighed-in for a world title fight and the lightest he has been since he stopped Russia’s Denis Bakhtov in October 2014.

In contrast, Ruiz has piled on the pounds and scaled 20st 3lbs (283lbs), 15lbs more than for their first fight at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

But Joshua has insisted the large difference in weight will work to his advantage.

“Not really, he’s a big lad and it’s a vast difference, but the art of the game is to hit and not get hit,” Joshua replied when asked whether he was surprised by the substantial difference in weight.

“I will definitely be beating him to the punch. He’s a big lad, I’m a big lad, and we hit hard regardless.

“I feel good. The weigh-in is important but, as heavyweights, it doesn’t matter because skills pay the bills.

“The physical stuff is done. It’s about the mental now. Aligning my body and my thoughts. I will be victorious. Within myself, I am confident. But I have to prove it to the world.”

That Ruiz had increased in weight since the last fight was met with surprise considering he had earlier pledged to trim down for the rematch.

He told USA Today: “I want to be more toned. Just shock the world even more, you know? I’ll have more ability, more speed, more power if I turn the little flab I have into muscle.

“I’m not trying to be with six-pack abs and big muscles and all that. None of that, you know. But just look a little different and more lean.”

Both men have meanwhile been forced to defend their controversial decision to stage the world title fight in Saudi Arabia.

The promotion has been criticised in light of the Kingdom’s human rights violations, including the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul in October 2018.

“As an individual I try to bring positivity and light everywhere I go. I’m just seeing it from my eyes alone but for sure the country in itself is trying to do a good job politically,” Joshua said.