There was no shoving, no barking and no flexing during the first face-off between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
Instead, Joshua tickled Fury on the sides of his torso.
Fury smiled at Joshua. Joshua smiled back.
There was a distinct absence of animosity Wednesday, Sept. 30 during the first press conference for a boxing match between two famed British heavyweights who seemed more like friends than rivals.
Savagery might have to wait until fight night with the two former heavyweight world champions set to fight Dec. 11 in Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
But the press conference got a little spicier when the boxers were asked about their strategy for the fight.
“I'm going to come out and I'm going to blast him out of there,’’ Fury said. “Let's
go. It will be gunfight at the O.K. Corral and it will be the best man's going to win because I'm going to run away, I'm not going to box, I'm going to throw down. And from what I'm seeing, I'm going to catch him, and when I do, it's going to be curtains. And that's it.’’
Joshua grinned.
“This is the energy that we want,’’ he said. “This is a fight. There's nothing else I expect from this man than to say he's going to render me unconscious and do everything he can to stick me to the canvas...
“This is what's going keep me sparring. This is what's going to make me do them extra rounds in the gym because I want to perform to prove to myself that what he says is not possible and for everyone that's coming out to support me to live up to the expectations that they have of me.’’
Fury vs Joshua: At long last UK gets its fight
The efforts to match up the two British fighters started more than a decade ago. Now, they’re both close to the twilight of their careers.
Better late than never? Fury, 38, is 36-2-1 with 25 knockouts. Joshua, who will turn 37 this month, is 30-4 with 27 knockouts.
Amid the smiles and jokes, there was a sense of relief, too. A feud that threatened the fight appears to be resolved.
For weeks, Dana White has vowed he’d be promoting the fight. But he was a no-show at the press conference while Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, and Fury’s promoter, Frank Warran, were announced the fight's promoters.
White, CEO of the UFC and head of Zuffa Boxing, had wanted the fight to be held at Madison Square Garden in New York. But Hearn and Joshua, who were adamant about the bout being held in the United Kingdom, ultimately won out and it will finally take place.
Barring any unexpected snags, that is.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua kicks off with tickling, smiles then KO predictions
