Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury was lifted off his feet by opponent Arslanbek Makhmudov in an astonishing demonstration of strength during their face-off.
Briton Fury, 37, will go in as a strong favourite against Russian Makhmudov, 36, when the pair meet in the ring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Saturday night.
Makhmudov, who boasts a record of 21 wins a two defeats, has already stunned fans in the lead-up to the bout by sharing videos of him fighting bears in the wild.
And he raised even more eyebrows on Thursday when he picked up 206cm opponent Fury and ragdolled him on stage after The Gypsy King shouted at the underdog.
Fury, who is fighting for the first time since his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk 16 months ago, took Makhmudov’s feat of strength in good faith as he laughed off the moment.
The pair then shook hands before going their separate ways, but fans were stunned by the exchange.
Oluwa said: “Something clownish about the lift. Heavyweight fighters used to be fierce. I dont get it anymore.”
Jay reacted: “Fury felt well awkward then.”
Troublemaker replied: “Face-offs don’t get more intense than this — two giants, one night, pure heavyweight drama. Let’s go!”
While Nwachukwu Dar Storm said: “Somebody needs to tell Tyson Fury to act professional, this is a boxing match, not a clown show.”
Despite the friendly interactions, Fury has spoken confidently ahead of the fight — with the two-time heavyweight champion expected to have his hand raised.
He said: “It’s going to be different because, for the first time in forever, I’m the hunter.
“I’m not the hunted, and we all know that when I’ve always been the hunter in the past, I’ve always f***ed people up.
“I actually feel sorry for Makhmudov because I’m going to make an example of him. He’s a big six foot seven lump, 18 or 19 stone. But I’ll knock his head right off his shoulders.
“I’m going to lay him unconscious like the gamecock on top of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He will be knocked spark out on the canvas looking up, thinking: ‘What just happened there?’
“But it’s no shame because he’s fighting the great Tyson Fury.”
Fury wants to face fellow Brit Anthony Joshua or undefeated heavyweight king Usyk for a third time if he comes through Makhmudov.
