Saudi Arabia ready for heavyweight showdown between Joshua and Usyk

Ukraine's defending champion Oleksandr Usyk will hold the upper hand in the "Rage on the Red Sea" heavyweight world title rematch with Britain's Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Usyk weighed in at 100.5kg, barely changed from before although still the heaviest of his career, while Joshua was 110.9kg - four pounds more than when he lost the titles last September in London.

Usyk, 19-0, is the favourite after his unanimous decision on Joshua's home turf for his first defence of the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts at the 10,000-capacity King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah.

“All this stuff doesn’t matter, it’s just about the fight,” said Joshua, who is looking to regain the belts and become a three-time world champion. “Weight, face-offs — none of it matters to me. I’m just looking forward to the fight.”

Usyk is also carrying the hopes of a nation following the prolonged crisis brought on by Russia's invasion, while another defeat for Joshua would pose big questions about his future.

Usyk left Ukraine in March for a training camp in Poland and more recently in Dubai. He has had to spend so much time away from his family — he has a wife, Yekaterina, and three kids — and that has not been easy.

But he is determined to provide some joy to his country, where the fight will be broadcast free of charge in a decision by organisers sparked by Usyk’s original push to buy the TV rights for the bout.

“I’m very pleased about that,” he said. “We all worked hard on it.”

Oleksandr Usyk and British boxer Anthony Joshua prepare to fight in Jeddah. AFP

Meanwhile, Joshua called retirement speculation "nonsense" after suggestions he could hang up his gloves if he loses to Usyk again.

Some experts have said a third professional