Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte failed to repeat the fireworks that marred the build-up to their first fight but still engaged in several hostile exchanges at Thursday’s head to head press conference.
The London rivals clash at the O2 in a repeat of their memorable showdown in Manchester two years ago when Whyte snatched a controversial split decision.
Chisora joked that the tables had been screwed down in reference to scenes in 2016 when he picked one up and hurled it at Whyte, earning a £25,000 fine and a suspended two-year sentence.
Both fighters have been warned by the British Boxing Board of Control over the their conduct ahead of Saturday’s rematch, but when Whyte mocked Chisora’s recent conversion into a born again Christian, the 34-year-old former world title challenger reacted.
“The funniest thing is at least I’m not doing any black magic. The voodoo talk,” Chisora said.
“You might say whatever you want to say but don’t come with the black magic talk, giving me the curses and the voodoo talk.
“They’ve screwed down the tables this time, but it’s OK. I don’t really want to do that any more. If I want to do something, I’ll do something.
“But right now I’m just happy that training has gone well. I’m ready to fight. The plan is to bite down the gumshield and seek and destroy.
“Everyone loved the first fight. I enjoyed it, although my brain cells didn’t enjoy it. I’ve been asking for this rematch for a while and it’s happening now.
“It’s not a risky fight for me. We’re going to take what’s his and make it mine. It’s not a risky fight.”
Chisora has won all but one of his four fights since being edged by Whyte at the Manchester Arena, dropping a majority decision to Agit Kabayel in Monte Carlo where the crowd made a poor impression on the Harare-born Briton.
“I like to have fights and the crowd in Monaco….you’re sweating in there and you have people drinking their Margaritas, looking at you like it’s the gladiators or the slave days fighting for the white man. Back to the slave days,” he said.
“It was like that in Monaco. You look out of the ring and everyone is on their Blackberries and on their phones. It’s not a great place for boxing.”
Whyte was happy to let Chisora and his manager David Haye do most of the talking knowing that he enters his 26th fight as odds-on favourite.
“I’ve been in fights where people are screaming and shouting, I’m going to do this or do that. But I’m just conserving my energy. I’m relaxed,” Whyte said.
“You know I can fight and box and have power. This fight doesn’t need any selling, but there will be blood drawn on Saturday night.”
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