Fury And Joshua Face Off For First Time Before December Fight

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua had their first faceoff Wednesday ahead of their Dec. 11 heavyweight clash at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

The two British champions smiled and joked through the staredown, which lasted just over a minute, according to MMA Fighting. Fury rose on his toes to exaggerate his height advantage. Joshua ended the exchange with a quick tickle.

What The Playful Mood Signals For Fury-Joshua

Both fighters showed mutual respect throughout Wednesday's press conference. The mood stayed light despite years of buildup for a bout that will stream globally on Netflix with backing from Eddie Hearn and Turki Alalshikh.

Fury has won his past two fights against Mariusz Wach and Arslanbek Makhmudov. Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in a high-profile matchup before stopping Kristian Prenga in July.

The Dec. 11 date marks the first time the two heavyweights will share a ring after years of negotiations and false starts.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Video: Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua face off for 1st time ahead of historic fight