TYSON FURY and Oleksandr Usyk had to be separated by security as they refused to lose the mental fight.
The pair rematch in Saudi Arabia on Saturday – just seven months after Usyk won their initial classic by split-decision.
They came face-to-face for the standard post-press conference stare down – but this one proved to be anything but.
Fury, 37, and Usyk, 36, looked into each others eyes without saying a single word until things got too tense to for comfort.
Efforts were made by members of their teams and even WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to try and break up the duo.
A media accreditation and even a napkin were dangled in front of them in an attempt to defuse the situation.
Neither worked.
Instead, the stare down went on for over ten minutes as words were exchanged between the heavyweight superstars.
At last, they were finally broken up and both went their separate ways.
Usyk became the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed champion following his points win in May.
Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematch
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
But he was forced to vacate the IBF belt to proceed with the rematch as Daniel Dubois, 27, inherited the strap.
Fury put too much showboating down as a reason for coming out second best in the 12-round thriller.
But he insisted there will be no more Mr Nice guy, laughing or joking as he issued a brutal warning to Usyk days out from the bout.
Fury said: “I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain. I’m going to put this f***er in the hurt locker, for sure.
“I’ve got nothing to say other than there’s going to be a whole load of hurt and pain in this fight, you watch. That’s all I’ve got to say.
“The talking’s been done. The first fight I talked, I joked, all my career. This fight I’m serious. I’m going to do some f***ing damage.”
