Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua engage in cordial first press conference
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.
Questions were invited from fans in attendance and Joshua called for a minute’s silence for “fallen soldiers”, including Ricky Hatton, but the evening was all about the boxers who dominated the talking.
While making the odd dig, Fury was also happy to laugh at himself as they each spoke as fighters knowing the finishing line in in sight.
Other talking points were a disputed sparring session that took place when Joshua was still an amateur and Fury a rookie professional and the behind-the-scenes wrangling over whose name should go first in the promotion.
Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn fought hard to have the fight staged in the UK while Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi boxing powerbroker providing the finances, pushed for New York once he realised Wembley was not an option.
Joshua said: “It’s breathtaking and I’m not saying that lightly. I’m really grateful for this opportunity to bring it to Great Britain because I know people in pubs have had proper fights about who will win between us. Family members have fallen out over it.
“We’ll inspire this generation and the next generation. I’m fulfilling my destiny before I depart this world.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub