By Shaun Brown
Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte came head to head today in London at a press conference six weeks out from their grudge match at the city's O2 Arena on December 12.
Olympic gold medalist Joshua and Whyte have something of a score to settle from a rivalry that started in the amateur days when Whyte defeated Joshua. The dislike for one another reared its head years later when comments from Joshua in the magazine Boxing News angered Whyte, who used social media to respond to his foe and thus pave the way for this showdown to be signed and sealed.
"He knocked me down, I got back up and beat me on a points decision," the unbeaten Joshua (14-0, 14 KOs) told Sky Sports News about that now infamous amateur bout. "I'm on a new path. I'm dealing with a new Dillian Whyte and he's dealing with a new Anthony Joshua. You have to leave what happened in the amateurs back in the amateurs. It's been a long time coming (the fight) but it's here now."
Whyte, who donned an eye-catching purple suit for todays 'Bad Intentions' press conference told the large media turnout: "I'm not one of the old men he has fought so far - I'm young and hungry. I'm just as powerful as him if not more. Doesn't matter how much he's improved. I'm deep in his soul and mind - I'll win again."
And of the grudge between the two, Whyte, also unbeaten (16-0, 13 KOs) said "I don't like him - as simple as that."
Joshua, seen as Britain's next great heavyweight hope kept his emotions in check and didn't participate in any of the verbal games that Whyte was looking to get involved in.
"I'm going to approach this fight with the same professional attitude as my others. This has more needle to it."
He added: "These guys think they can beat me - until they get in the ring. When you are 17/18st it changes the aspect of the fight."
Chief support to the heavyweight main event will be another match-up full of needled and bad blood involving Chris Eubank Jr. and Gary "Spike" O'Sullivan at middleweight in a WBA world middleweight title eliminator.
Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that there would be "big announcements" this week on who will be on the rest of the card. Tony Bellew, Luke Campbell and Kevin Mitchell are just three of the names expected to be on the bill.
Shaun Brown is Boxing Scene's UK Editor. Follow him on Twitter @sbrown2pt0 or contact him at sbrownboxing@gmail.com
