FIGHTERS on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk’s rematch with Anthony Joshua are struggling to deal with FLIES.
Commentator Adam Smith made the stunning revelation with the bumper night of fights well underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
During Badou Jack’s clash with Richard Rivera, the broadcaster said: “flies are affecting boxers in the ring”.
In addition to battling the bugs, Jack and Rivera were also forced to fight for an extra 60 seconds during round eight… when the timekeeper went awol.
The clock on the Sky Sports Box Office screen disappeared at the end of the allocated three minutes, but the two fighters were made to slug it out for an extra 60 seconds.
With the fight going to a decision, it was Jack who managed to follow Ramla Ali in defying the flies to grab a big win.
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AJ’s crunch rematch with Usyk is set to go ahead in stifling 32 degree heat later tonight at King Abdullah Sports City.
The Brit will be desperate to thrive in the sticky conditions to earn back his heavyweight belts.
Joshua, 32, weighed in at 244lbs for the crunch bout – 4lbs heavier than the first fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Usyk, meanwhile, came in at 221lbs – exactly what he weighed last September.
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In the immediate aftermath of the weigh-in, AJ said: “I’ll be honest, all of this stuff doesn’t matter, it’s just about the fight. Real talk.
“All of this stuff, weight, face-off, none of it matters to me. Just looking forward to the fight.”
AJ then added: “I’m just ready for 12 rounds, 100 per cent ready for 12 rounds and anything short of that is a bonus.”
Joshua engaged in mind games during the face off – asking Usyk about his weakness.
Amid rumours that the Ukrainian was hurt by a shot to the body while sparring with Martin Bakole, AJ asked: “How’s your bodyshot? In sparring…”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
