Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury in nasty pre-fight altercation
Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder have kicked off their final press conference with a shoving match ahead of Saturday's WBC heavyweight title rematch.
As soon as the two men walked onto the stage, Fury got right in Wilder's face, singing and taunting the American champion.
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Wilder kept his composure well until finally losing his patience and pushing Fury away, with the challenger then replying in kind before security staff quickly waded in.
As the slanging match continued, Fury claimed to have raised Wilder's profile and stock - only for the American to taunt his rival about his mental health issues.
“He should not dare to say that he got me into big-time boxing. If he does, I'll slap him,” Wilder said.
"Don't you ever forget that when I found you, you were strung out on coke. You were like a big house, contemplating killing yourself.
"Don't you ever forget who brought you to big-time boxing. I brought you back, dragged you back, I put food on your table for your family to eat and I'm doing it again for a second time.
"I'm the one who sells the pay-per-view and tickets. They come to see me."
Fury, unsurprisingly, took Wilder to task over the taunts about suicide.
"I was the man who beat Wladimir Klitschko," said the Briton.
"I gave you your biggest payday. You're a bum - nobody even knows you in your own country."
Responding to more goading about suicide, Fury said: "And that's the man you take on? A man thinking about killing himself?
"You thought you were getting an easy victory, didn't you? Well it didn't work out - I came back and kicked your arse all over."
Fury tips early knockout
Fury received a hero's welcome as he arrived at the MGM Grand to kick off fight week on Tuesday, with fans from both sides of the Atlantic cheering and applauding his entrance.
The Brit, decked out in a typically colourful bespoke suit bearing hundreds of motifs featuring his own face - was in confident mood.
"I'm very happy so many people have turned out for this event," he said.
Grabbing the microphone, the Gypsy King roared: "Who's ready for a war?
"Let's go! I've done everything correctly in training camp, I've been over here for 10 weeks and I feel on fire.
"I'm ready for anything they chuck at me. I cannot wait for Saturday. This is the biggest fight of the last 50 years in the heavyweight division with two men putting it on the line.
"The fans will be the winners because we both have a lot to lose. It's going to be an entertaining fight.
"I'm still predicting a second-round knockout, 100 per cent."
Wilder, for his part, believes he will go on to make history.
"Greatness lies in me," he said. "It will be an amazing feeling, my 11th consecutive title defence.
"I'm tied now with my idol, Muhammad Ali, and once I've beaten Fury with a devastating knockout I will go on even further to break the record and do more amazing things.
"My goal is for there to be one champion, one face, one name in the division.
"I'm in pursuit of that and I'm looking forward to fulfilling my goals and dreams."
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