Joshua vs Whyte: Anthony Joshua says security stopped a physical confrontation with Dillian Whyte
Wednesday 9 December 2015 15:03, UK
Anthony Joshua has admitted that he had to be separated from bitter rival Dillian Whyte as tensions boiled over during the 'Gloves Are Off'.
The feuding heavyweights came face-to-face on Sky Sports ahead of their eagerly awaited grudge fight on December 12, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
Joshua and Whyte could not contain their emotions as Johnny Nelson chaired an intense interview and security were forced to prevent a physical confrontation, bringing a dramatic halt to filming.
Joshua told Sky Sports News HQ: "Quite intense. There couldn't be a part two, because I don't think all of it was aired out and the beef between me and Dillian - so there couldn't be a part two.
"But it was good, it got people interested and now they have got to tune into the fight to see what that's about."
I was expecting there to be a dust-up in the Sky Sports courtyard. Shout out to the security, they did a job and kept us apart.
"There is a fight when you have got to stay cool, calm and relaxed and then you have to sit across the table with someone that you don't really get along with and that's where you are really going to see that animosity and that atmosphere is going to be bad energy. There was bad energy in the air and that's what the 'Gloves Are Off' was about.
"I was expecting there to be a dust-up in the Sky Sports courtyard. Shout out to the security, they did a job and kept us apart. We did have a bit of a square off, a few words off camera as we were leaving. We had a few words to say to each other."
Asked who intervened, Joshua said: "Security and friends. Not majorly but just woah woah, be easy. You've got a fight scheduled and that's what you've got to focus on."
Promoter Eddie Hearn admitted that Joshua was stopped from having an altercation with Whyte, but expects him to keep his composure when the first bell rings.
"People ask if he lost his rag on Gloves Are Off. I think he was ready to fight but other than that I've not noticed any emotion in this camp - it's been the same as other camps," said Hearn.
"It's a dangerous fight as it is so to bring emotion into it would make it a very dangerous fight.
"It was heated. They had to be separated in the corridor afterwards. It was personal - this fight is personal. It was an intense environment, sitting so close for an hour. It was as close to boiling point as you're going to get."
Whyte has also shed light on the highly charged encounter with Joshua and believes a bad-tempered clash was inevitable.
He holds an amateur victory over Joshua and has suggested this defeat still irritates the Olympic gold medallist.
"We had a very good, heated conversation," Whyte told Sky Sports. "It was relaxed at times and at times it was heated.
"Clearly we don't like each other and when you put two men in a room that genuinely don't like each other, it's always going to get heated.
"Since we fought as amateurs in 2009, I've always been under his skin. If somebody had beaten me, they'd always be under my skin until I got revenge."
Joshua v Whyte: The Gloves Are Off
You can still watch 'The Gloves Are Off' with Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte On Demand.
Joshua vs Whyte is exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office on December 12, and is now available to order via phone or online.
