Fury and Joshua trade jokes at London launch for Cardiff fight on 11 December
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua swapped jibes, then talk of a pint, at the first news conference for their Principality Stadium heavyweight fight.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua came face to face in London on Wednesday for the first news conference promoting their long-awaited all-British heavyweight fight.
The fight is due to take place at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Friday 11 December. After more than a decade of feuding and failed negotiations, the mood was far friendlier than many expected.
What was said in London
Fury, 38, and Joshua, 36, traded jokes and jibes rather than serious threats. BBC Sport said the mood was best summed up at the face-off, when Joshua smiled and pretended to tickle Fury's stomach. The Guardian described the face-off as peaceful and calm.
Fury predicted a quick finish. "I'm going to catch him and when I do it's going to be curtains," he said, according to The Guardian. He also promised to "throw down" rather than box.
Joshua said he expected nothing less. He told the room he would use Fury's talk of a knockout as motivation in the gym.
Joshua also revealed he had received a call asking whether Fury's name could appear first in the promotion. Fury took a swipe at the drawn-out negotiations, claiming Joshua's side had tried to get out of the fight and saying: "I've checkmated you."
Then the tone softened. Fury offered to share a pint of Guinness with Joshua after the fight, "win, lose or draw". Joshua answered: "I don't know if I can trust you."
The Peter Fury twist
The Guardian reported a surprise from Joshua before the event. He said he is in contact with Peter Fury, Tyson's uncle and former trainer. The two fell out soon after Tyson's 2015 win over Wladimir Klitschko.
Joshua said he last spoke to Peter about a month ago. He said he would speak to him again before the fight, but for advice on his own training rather than on Fury.
Ben Davison will train Joshua. Davison has also worked with Fury before. Fury seemed briefly surprised by the news, then joked about it. He pointed out that he had left Davison and that Joshua had too.
Loose ends around the fight
Not everything is settled. BBC Sport reported that, as recently as Monday, there was uncertainty over whether the fight would go ahead because of contractual disagreements over the promotion.
UFC and Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White also became a talking point. Netflix had presented him as part of the promotion alongside Turki Alalshikh's The Ring. Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn said his fighter's contract prevented White from having a promotional role. White did not attend the launch. According to BBC Sport, some of the crowd jeered when Alalshikh thanked him from the stage.
The fight has also been reported as being for the vacant WBA "super" heavyweight title. The team of current WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev has lodged a formal objection to that arrangement.
What happens next
Fury said the fight will be "the icing on the cake of two great careers", to be fought "in front of 80,000 people". He rejected any suggestion it has come too late.
BBC Sport said the main event could start around 02:00 GMT to suit American audiences. Fans in the UK should check broadcast details closer to the date, as the sources do not confirm the start time or how to watch in Britain.
For now, the rivals have promised a fight, and each other a drink afterwards.
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