Dangerous SWEAT covers canvas for Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk with towels used between rounds to mop it up

SKY SPORTS pundits expressed fears over the ring canvas ahead of Anthony Joshua's defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

And during the clash itself towels had to be used to mop it up to stop the fighters from slipping.

The ring floor at the King Abdullah International Stadium was soaked with sweat during Filip Hrgovic' heavyweight clash with Zhilei Zhang on the undercard.

And the sheer amount of liquid on the floor sparked serious concerns ahead of AJ's rematch with unified heavyweight champion Usyk.

Commentator Adam Smith: "They’ve have to sort the canvas out for what comes next, it’s really bad."

Matthew Macklin chimed in: "It’s dangerous in there, you could slip onto a shot"

Smith then said: "‘Can they sort the canvas out please?"

Boxing fans also expressed their concerns. with one saying: "The canvas is soaking off the referees sweat."

Another said: "This canvas - sweat stop play."

And another said: "So are we going to see Usyk and Joshua slipping about on that sweat ridden canvas?"

One remarked: "The canvas in the ring is absolute ass. the logos are what's causing the slip, the sweat is a factor too but it's mostly the logos."

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Another chimed in: "Slippery ring canvases are a problem on too many occasions.

"If fighters have oil/grease on their bodies and they sweat it’s impossible to clear it. OU and AJ will now slip too!"

SunSport's Wally Downes Jr is on the scene and said: "Mike Goodall of Ringcraft was in the ring trying to sort out the canvas during the Saudi anthem.

"He and his firm do all the rings all over the country and built this one.

"I don't know what has caused it but if a fighter has oil or vaseline on when and it mixes with sweat it can be a nightmare to clean.

"Can't just be dried with grease or oil on there Will fuck usyk footwork."