Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk refused to break their intense staredown despite multiple requests from promoter Eddie Hearn.
Joshua is aiming to exact his revenge against Usyk on Saturday night at the Jeddah Super Dome in Saudi Arabia. The pair have shown an amicable respect throughout the build-up, 11 months on from Uysk's dominant win in their first encounter.
Joshua and Usyk faced off for the first time during fight week when they took part in a press conference yesterday before doing so again outside. Once again the pair held a long and tense stare in front of the Red Sea with Eddie Hearn stood yards away.
The pair glared at each other with their game faces on and Hearn attempted to break the stare with a quick ask for the pair to look to the front and face the camera. However the pair ignored his first request and continued to lock eyes as neither man opted to step away.
Hearn made another attempt to break the staredown seconds later with a comment "It's time to go gents" which saw Usyk grab his arm and shake it. Joshua then became the man to turn away from his rival and look towards the front with Usyk following suit to take pictures.
It is the third time the pair have come face-to-face since the announcement of the second meeting, with two previous face-offs held in both Saudi Arabia and in London. Joshua will be looking for revenge in Saudi Arabia for the second time in his career having inflicted a rematch defeat on Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.
Who do you think will win - Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua? Let us know in the comments section below
Despite the series of intense glares with his conqueror, Joshua has claimed there is not much to be taken from the press conferences and he is ready to focus on business in the ring. "No, not at all," he said after yesterday's event. "It is what it is. If you are into body language and psychology then you can read into it.
"But that's not really my forte. My forte's boxing and on Saturday that's where I've got to do my studying. I don't really take too much from a press conference, it is what it is. You say what you want to say and you do your best on Saturday night. That's what I'm focused on."
Meanwhile Usyk has had a turbulent career with the events happening in his native Ukraine, but has vowed to use the support his fellow countryman to spur him to victory. “I am motivated by the people of Ukraine who are struggling hard to defend our independence, to defend our freedom and defend our culture that other people want to demolish and destroy," he said. "They don’t want us to exist anymore. I am in touch with many guys from the frontline, military guys and soldiers."
