Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury were lacking in words when addressing the media for the final time ahead of Saturday's unified world heavyweight title showdown.
The two fighters are meeting for the second time in six months after Usyk prevailed from their undisputed clash - also in Saudi Arabia - back in May.
Although the IBF title, which is now held by Daniel Dubois, is not on the line, Usyk is still defending the WBA, WBO and WBC belts.
Neither the Ukrainian or British fighter have been particularly vocal in the build-up to the rematch, waiting for their fists to do the talking at the weekend.
Speaking first as the challenger, Fury - now 36 years of age - acknowledged that he was not in the mood to be his jovial self ahead of what is essentially a legacy-defining fight.
He said: "I've got nothing to say, apart from there is going to be a lot of hurt and pain in this fight, you watch.
"That's all I got to say. Talking's been done. The first fight I talked, I joked – all my career - this time, I am serious. I am going to do some serious damage. Watch me go to work."
How did Usyk respond?
The talking is done says the champ ✋ @usykaa #Usyk2Fury | #RiyadhSeason | Dec 21, live on DAZN | Click link in bio to buy | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/4Kpjt4AfeE
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 19, 2024
Usyk was far less talkative than his opponent, manager Alex Krassyuk translating that his fighter is ready to put on "a performance".
The pair will now go through their final preparations for the Riyadh contest, their next obligation the weigh-in on Friday.
Although the suggestion is that Fury may come in heavier than the 262lbs that he weighed for the first fight, that will not be revealed until the day before the bout.
Eleven-minute face-off
The face-off between the two lasted far longer...
FACE-OFF 🥶@usykaa vs @Tyson_Fury
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) December 19, 2024
👑 Unified World Heavyweight Championship
#UsykFury2 live on @DAZNBoxing PPV on Saturday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WgSzWiV8t5
VERBALS 😤#Usyk2Fury | #RiyadhSeason | Dec 21, live on DAZN | Click link in bio to buy | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/3LwKhGp8C8
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 19, 2024
Darren Plant
