Anthony Joshua appeared calmer than Tyson Fury at first faceoff

Body language expert Inbaal Honigman analyzes their first faceoff

We’ve known for a while now that there’s a lot going on surrounding the fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, and we should be glad we no longer have to read daily news reports that the fight is once again on the verge of falling through. Now that it’s been officially announced, some new developments are emerging, namely, a body language expert.

Yesterday, the press conference took place in London, where the two faced off for the first time. Afterward, body language expert Inbaal Honigman shared her thoughts on the matter. According to her, both fighters initially appeared quite confident in the photos. However, she noted some changes in Tyson Fury’s behavior during the face-off. She said:

“When they pose side by side, both men appear confident, standing in a solid stance, legs strong, shoulders square, feet shoulder-width apart -- this 'planted' stance indicates a self-assured attitude. But Fury then engages in some childlike behavior, standing on the tips of his toes and being playful, which shows that he's a little less secure than Joshua. Fury's fingers flex a bit, which is a sign of nerves -- unlike Joshua, who is in complete control over his physical body, which is a sign that he's mentally on top, too. Fury is seen to be chewing while he talks -- perhaps a bit of gum, perhaps just a nervous, tense jaw. Joshua's smile, meanwhile, remains calm and unmoving. Fury's eyes dart from side to side when he talks about AJ, showing that he's nervous. AJ's peaceful facial expression is a sign that he is not afraid at all. Joshua's serenity means that he's better prepared for the match than Fury is and has a better chance of winning”

she said.

So it was a pretty detailed explanation of the events, but she currently sees Anthony Joshua as the one who handles pressure better and keeps a cooler head. That said, it’s important to emphasize again that this is an assessment and not confirmed evidence of abnormal behavior. What do you think about this?

I think it’s an interesting assessment on her part. Can you use this to predict the winner? No, I don’t think so, but I always find it fascinating to see how experts evaluate things like this.