Fury and Joshua share cordial London launch amid promotional and title disputes

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua shared a London stage on Wednesday to launch their heavyweight fight, exchanging jokes and praise after years of public disputes and unsuccessful negotiations. BBC Sport reported that the two British boxers struck a largely cordial tone at the news conference ahead of their scheduled meeting at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on 11 December.

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The appearance followed uncertainty earlier in the week over contractual disagreements about the promotion. Fury, 38, praised Joshua's standing in British boxing and said he often defended his rival when speaking to fans. Joshua, 36, expressed gratitude that the contest was being brought to Britain and spoke about the strength of feeling the matchup had generated among supporters.

A few hundred fans joined the media at the British Airways ARC, with chants supporting Joshua heard from the balcony. The fighters entered from opposite sides of the stage, Joshua wearing a grey tracksuit and sunglasses and Fury an emerald-green suit decorated with crowns. At the face-off, Joshua smiled and pretended to tickle Fury's stomach, reflecting the relaxed atmosphere described by BBC Sport.

The rivals also revisited a sparring session from 2010, when Joshua was still an amateur. Fury suggested he had come out on top, while Joshua said he could not remember. Their exchanges were not entirely free of friction: Joshua disclosed that he had received a call about putting Fury's name first in the promotion, prompting a sharper response from his opponent.

Questions about the promotional arrangements remained part of the event's backdrop. BBC Sport reported that Netflix had presented Dana White as involved alongside Turki Alalshikh's The Ring, while Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn maintained that his fighter's contract barred White from a promotional role. White did not attend the launch. Some spectators jeered when Alalshikh thanked him from the stage.

The proposed title status also remains disputed. The fight has been reported as being for the vacant WBA 'super' heavyweight championship, but current WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev's team has formally objected to that arrangement. The launch ended on a friendlier note between the participants, with Fury suggesting a post-fight drink with Hearn and Joshua and calling for their differences to be put aside.