Anthony Joshua has revealed he sparred six rounds just four days before his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr.
The former heavyweight world champion flew five sparring partners to Saudi Arabia to complete his preparations.
Joshua has overhauled his training regime in a bid to regain the belts he lost to Ruiz in New York in June.
The Brit could scale half a stone lighter than for the rivals' first fight after stripping back his musckle.
But it his revelation that his sparring has continued into fight week which stands out.
"I sparred [on Tuesday] and did my last six rounds which was good," he told the BBC .
"I invested in bringing out five sparring partners, I had to invested a lot in this camp.
"Sparring at the British embassy was good; they let us use the outdoor garden areas to acclimatise to the weather rather than training indoors.
"It was good to be around the Brits, we let the staff come down as well and it was something different for them.
"I liked the energy and atmosphere we created but that will irrelevant; its all about Saturday night and that's all that matters."
Joshua has long been criticised for being too muscle-bound and has a habit of struggling with his fitness in the later rounds.
And he could weigh in a stone lighter than he was before he fought Wladimir Klitschko in 2017.
"Before I would spend more time when I’m not preparing for a fight doing cardio and strength and conditioning," he said. "This time I spent so much time in the boxing gym and I was just tagging on burpees and dorsal raises.
"Before I was trying to squat 200kg and bench press a house because I used what had got me there and that was my brute strength and physicality - but then I realised there is a sweet science to the sport.
"After I fought Klitschko everyone was happy but I realised how many times can a fighter go through that kind of punishment.
