Declan Taylor catches up with IBO/WBA/WBO/IBF heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko to discuss his upcoming fight with undefeated British heavyweight Tyson Fury next month in Dusseldorf, Germany.
LONDON -- Wladimir Klitschko probably never thought he would come up against Batman and the Joker.
Yet that was the bizarre scene that unfolded Wednesday at a news conference in London to promote his heavyweight title defense against Britain's Tyson Fury.
When the Ukrainian took his seat at the front table, he leaned across to glance at his title belts on display in front of his chair. Moments later, they were strewn across the floor.
Fury ran in wearing the caped crusader's outfit as the Batman theme tune played loudly in the room. After he sat down, a man dressed as the Joker walked up and interrupted Fury.
The British fighter, who stands 2.06 meters (6-foot-9), leaped across the table and wrestled the man to the floor, knocking Klitschko's belts to the ground.
The 27-year-old Fury pointed to the man on his back, laying on one of the belts, and shouted at Klitschko: "You, next! He is a fool, just like you are. Look at him. That is how you'll be looking. You are old."
Fury hoisted the Joker up and dragged him out of the room, before shortly reappearing in a grey suit, apologizing for being late.
"This is the most entertaining press conference I have been to," Klitschko said. "Give Tyson Fury a round of applause."
Fury, with a record of 24-0, challenges Klitschko (64-3) for his WBA, WBO and IBF titles in Duesseldorf, Germany on Oct. 24.
The 39-year-old Klitschko stayed composed throughout the proceedings, despite Fury repeatedly calling him "an old man" and claiming that the champion had only fought "pretenders" in "fixed fights."
Klitschko riled Fury by calling him "a clown."
"I will let my fists do the talking," Klitschko said. "I am going to make you eat your words. I have a big job for him (Fury). I have got friends from the circus industry. They can give you a job as a clown. Clowns make people laugh. It is their job and right now, after watching this theatre, the screaming, the running and the costumes, it is in your genes."
Fury said he would end Klitschko's career.
"I am going to send you into retirement," he said. "The last two letters of your name is `ko.' It has been a long time since you have been on the canvas."
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