Boxing: David Haye v Audley Harrison make final preparations

There's around 700 fight fans in Manchester's Lowry Theatre today for the weigh-in. As the defending champion waits on stage, he reveals another one of his provocative t-shirts to them (check out picture number 5 in this gallery to see what it refers to) Photograph: Tom Jenkins

He looks sleek and toned and weighs in at 210.5 pounds Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Harrison, the 2000 Olympic heavyweight, also looks in fantasic shape and tips the scales at 253.5 pounds Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Ex-world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis does his bit to keep the two pugilists apart, though they do have a bit of a war of words for the cameras. Haye claimed that he could hear his opponent's "heart beating" as they faced each other, to which Harrison retorted "Yeah? Well he's gonna feel my fists punching" Photograph: Tom Jenkins

It's the day before the weigh-in and both fighters have open training sessions at the Ricky Hatton gym in Hyde, Cheshire. It's a chance for the media and fans to check out the fighters as they work off any spare ounces Photograph: Tom Jenkins

There is a lot of media interest in this fight Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Harrison's corner men – left to right, Harry Holland, Shadeed Suzuki (trainer) and Kamal Suzuki – are just as focused as their fighter Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Harrison shows off a few moves in the ring Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Harrison may be almost nine years older than his opponent but he's still got enough fire in his belly for the fight Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The reigning WBA world heavyweight champion, David Haye, tapes up his hands ahead of his training session Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Before indulging in some stretching Photograph: Tom Jenkins

This stretch looks particularly painful Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Whereas this one seems a little more tailored to giving the camera a moody stare Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Haye then works the pads Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The two fighters face off at Wednesday's press conference Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Later, an animated Harrison indulges in some linguistic exercises Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Before heading up to Manchester, Harrison had an open training session at the Repton Boys Club in Bethnal Green, London. His relaxed manner may have been due to the fact that it must have felt like going home for the former Olympic champion, as he boxed out of Repton in his amateur days Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Harrison will have to adhere to the advice on the sign above him to stand a chance of beating Haye Photograph: Tom Jenkins

He puts on a show for the watching members of the club and media Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Audley Harrison's portrait hangs on the wall with other young Repton amateurs Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Harrison, ever the showman, smiles for the cameras Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Here he gets his mind in order Photograph: Tom Jenkins

And partakes in a spot of shadow boxing Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The former WBF world heavyweight champion vacated his European heavyweight title in June in order to have a shot at what he considers a 'proper' world title Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Haye's usual training camp is in Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus, but during preparations for the Ruiz fight the team moved their training back to Britain in order to build up the promotions side of the business. They have replicated the setup of the Cyprus gym at this state-of-the-art facility under the railway arches at Vauxhall Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Here he aims a straight right just past the lens Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The world champion poses for the media Photograph: Tom Jenkins

He's put in an almighty training session, as evidenced by the sweat
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Some home-made patriotism Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Haye listens to advice from his coach/manager/promotor Adam Booth. The two men met when Haye was 16 and Booth has been with him ever since Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Some old-school boxing exercises Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Haye adjusts the clip on his pony-tail Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Taking off the wraps around his hands at the end of another gruelling session Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Haye towels himself down with a t-shirt after lifting some weights Photograph: Tom Jenkins

And then refuels Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Deep in thought as he lies on the canvas of the ring emblazoned with his Haymaker symbol. The words visible here say London 80 (the year he was born) Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The session is over and Haye's body is given a good stretch out by his masseuse, nutritionist and sprint coach Ruben Tavares. The 29-year-old is a boyhood friend of Haye from the streets of Bermondsey, and is also a 400 metre sprinter from Linford Christie's stable of London 2012 track and field hopefuls Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Haye seems to be happy with how the session went ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins

... as well as shocked and surprised after hearing questions from reporters Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Saturday's fight will be the biggest all-British bout since 1993's Benn v Eubank rematch. If the pay-per-view subscriptions continue to rise – and they've already passed the 400,000 mark – then it will also become Britain's first £10million fight Photograph: Tom Jenkins