Tyson Fury wants weigh-in face-off with Deontay Wilder cancelled as he apologises for press conference melee

Tyson Fury has called for today’s customary weigh-in face-off with Deontay Wilder to be cancelled in order to avoid a repeat of the ugly scenes which marred Wednesday’s final press conference.

Punches appeared to be thrown by members of both teams as the two heavyweights came head-to-head for a photograph in downtown LA as their lengthy and often bad-tempered promotion surged towards its climax.

Even the California State Athletic Commission has threatened to withhold both fighters’ purses if there is any further trouble at Friday’s weigh-in at the Los Angeles Convention Center, which is a short ringwalk away from the Staples Center where the pair will finally collide on Saturday night.

Usually the shirtless fighters would be brought together for one last photo opportunity once they have weighed in but the commission are still yet to decide whether or not to allow it. Now Fury, who will step onto the scales at around 9pm UK time, believes the idea should be binned altogether.

“I am quite embarrassed about what happened on Thursday,” Fury said.

“It was unsporting conduct with everyone watching around the world and I would like to take the opportunity to apologise on both our behalves.

“It was not how sportsmen should be. It got out of hand but it was two unbeaten fighters who want to win, badly.

“Deontay Wilder is obviously nervous and rattled and he felt the need to get in my face.

“There should be no face-off at the weigh-in and if it comes to fisticuffs then let’s have it.

“I will not wait until Saturday if he gets in my face before.”

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Fury showed admirable restraint as Wilder stormed towards him while unleashing a tirade before stopping just centimetres from his opponent’s face. In the end, an errant finger did make minor contact with Fury but he did not retaliate.

And, although the mayhem did escalate between the fighters’ entourages, Fury ensured he kept his cool so as not to put his challenge for Wilder’s WBC title in jeopardy altogether.

Fury said: “He’s lucky I did not take his teeth out, I could smell his breath and feel the spit hitting me when he was screaming all that rubbish.

“I was calm but I was thinking about hitting him with a left hook and headbutting him but I knew that is what he wanted.

“I want this fight to be on, I have been waiting for it since 2012, I picked him as my third comeback fight.

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“Deontay Wilder is looking for any excuse to get out of this fight now he knows it is on him but I am not going to lose millions of pounds in fines for hitting him, definitely not, I am too clever for that.

“I had my hand cocked to land on his temple and knock him clean out and then it would have gone off. He had his boys there but they are not serious. I had my family there and we would have done them in, there and then.

“Wilder’s brother was giving it the bigg’un and then my brother threw two punches and he ran away. This is a serious thing for us, we are not here to act. We are not here to play games or mess around.

“I touched his shoulder because I changed my mind from cracking him. He nearly poked me in the eye and scratched my forehead, I wondered if it would be self-defence if I cracked him.

“My lawyer said before it started; ‘whatever you do, do not hit him’. We should not have got that close together, I was not there to cause a fight, he was taking it too serious.”