Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua engaged in a series of good-natured exchanges as the countdown started on their ‘Battle of Britain’ clash in Cardiff on December 11.
Sharing a stage for the first time at the fight’s launch press conference in west London, the rivals stayed respectful throughout with Fury even suggesting to Joshua that they meet for a “pint of Guinness” once they had finished in the ring.
Joshua was wary of the invitation because of Fury’s history of playing mind games, declaring with a smile that “I don’t know if I can trust you”.
The hour-long event watched by a crowd of 1,000 lacked the acrimony of the negotiations between promoters to arrange the biggest fight in British boxing history and even when they faced off they looked far from the bitter foes who have vied for national supremacy for over a decade.
Fury chatted away at Joshua as they held eye contact before the Olympic gold medallist ended the exchange by tickling his opponent in the midriff.
