Dillian Whyte finally ready to talk Tyson Fury days before heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium

LONDON — When they finally faced off for the first time after years of trading fighting words, Tyson Fury tickled Dillian Whyte with both hands as the pair of big men erupted in laughter.

Until last week's media conference call, Whyte refused to promote Saturday's heavyweight title fight before 94,000-plus at Wembley Stadium (2 p.m. ET, ESPN+ PPV).

The challenger, who is usually active on social media, even declined to acknowledge the fight was happening on all on his platforms. Whyte (28-2, 19 KOs) was peeved at the parameters of January's record-setting purse bid of $41 million, which pays him 20% and doesn't cut him in on the upside of the pay-per-view sales in the U.K or U.S.

But now, with the fight just three days away, Whyte was in the mood to talk on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium, the site of his first title opportunity, one that he's waited more than 1,500 days for.

«It's two sides to every story,» said Whyte, ESPN's No. 6 heavyweight. «One side says a lot of things and they say 'oh, you're scared. I'm not scared of s---; I'm not hiding from s---. It's something to get done. Obviously, fight was signed, but there were other things to sign.»

Fury, who will be fighting someone not named Deontay Wilder for the first time since September 2019, cracked jokes throughout the news conference and reiterated several times that Whyte is being underestimated. It's not simply banter meant to promote a fight; Whyte is arguably the most accomplished active boxer to never receive a title shot.

The 34-year-old owns wins over Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora (twice) and Alexander Povetkin (in a rematch to avenge a KO loss) to go along with a TKO defeat to Anthony Joshua earlier in his career.

«I've done everything possible I can do to