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 Thursdayโs 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 ยฃ25,000 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 Saturdayโs rematch, but when Whyte mocked Chisoraโs recent conversion into a born again Christian, the 34-year-old former world title challenger reacted.
โThe funniest thing is at least Iโm not doing any black magic. The voodoo talk,โ Chisora said.
โYou might say whatever you want to say but donโt come with the black magic talk, giving me the curses and the voodoo talk.
โTheyโve screwed down the tables this time, but itโs OK. I donโt really want to do that any more. If I want to do something, Iโll do something.
โBut right now Iโm just happy that training has gone well. Iโm ready to fight. The plan is to bite down the gumshield and seek and destroy.
โEveryone loved the first fight. I enjoyed it, although my brain cells didnโt enjoy it. Iโve been asking for this rematch for a while and itโs happening now.
โItโs not a risky fight for me. Weโre going to take whatโs his and make it mine. Itโs not a risky fight.โ
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.
โI like to have fights and the crowd in Monacoโฆ.youโre sweating in there and you have people drinking their Margaritas, looking at you like itโs the gladiators or the slave days fighting for the white man. Back to the slave days,โ he said.
โIt was like that in Monaco. You look out of the ring and everyone is on their Blackberries and on their phones. Itโs not a great place for boxing.โ
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.
โIโve been in fights where people are screaming and shouting, Iโm going to do this or do that. But Iโm just conserving my energy. Iโm relaxed,โ Whyte said.
โYou know I can fight and box and have power. This fight doesnโt need any selling, but there will be blood drawn on Saturday night.โ