Oleksandr Usyk, dressed as Agent 47 from the video game Hitman, shared a warm but strange moment with Tyson Fury in their pre-fight press conference at Whitehall on Wednesday.
Both fighters are set to meet again in the ring on December 21 after Usyk beat Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world in May.
And while it might have seen the Gypsy King lose his unbeaten status in professional boxing, he looked relaxed at the press conference.
Usyk, a man of few words, arrived dressed as Agent 47 – a character in the video game Hitman that works as an assassin – a pointed message to his opponent.
Oleksandr Usyk asked for Tyson Fury’s autograph in a bizarre press conference
Reuters
Yet the vibes at the presser were amicable between the two with Usyk even taking a photo of their first fight out of his briefcase before making his way to his rival’s table and asking for an autograph.
Fury happily obliged while the Briton said: “We did the fight in May, a great fight, I know people keep going on about it but it’s in the past now, we’ve got to move on.
“I have to be a little bit more focused and smart to get the victory.
“My rematches with people, I always end up knocking them out, so I’m envisaging something similar against Usyk.
“All I can do is train well, eat well, go to bed early, listen to the people around me and the rest is in god’s hands.”
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When the two fighters met for their face-offs, sometimes in other clashes, the scenes can turn nasty with security sometimes brought in.
However, there appeared to be no animosity on this occasion as Fury and Usyk locked eyes.
And in another bizarre moment, Fury broke the tension by tickling Usyk’s ribs.
The Ukrainian did not move a muscle though, though he did give a smile, never taking his eyes off the 36-year-old while promoter Frank Warren giggled in the background.
Tyson Fury tickled Oleksandr Usyk, who did not move an inch, though he did give a big smile
Reuters
Giving his closing thoughts, Fury insisted he would win back his heavyweight titles – minus the IBF belt which now belongs to Daniel Dubois.
He said: “Last time it wasn’t my time to win or god would have given me victory. I’m very happy Usyk got the decision, that was meant to be, and we’re going to find out what is meant to be on 21 December.”
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Oleksandr Usyk showed off his signed picture
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“I believe it’s my time this time and all things that happen, positive or negative, are lessons and we must learn from these things as humans, boxers, fathers and husbands.
“What we know is to go out there and knock each other out, and to put on a show for the paying customer.
“I hope you guys will enjoy this fight as much as I will.”