WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew had a tense stand-off at their weigh-in the challenger's native Liverpool.
Both fighters looked in peak condition ahead of Saturday's title fight at the Echo Arena Liverpool on Saturday night.
Sparks of confrontation flashed between the pair during a fractious head-to-head photo-call at the Contemporary Urban Centre.
"He came up at the weigh-in, he put his face in my face, he tried to butt me, so I just let it be known.
"He tried to bang his head into me," said Wavertree's Bellew, 28. "He is shook and he is doing daft things.
"It is not my fault. The reason that happened is he put his head in my head; he can't intimidate me, I intimidate him, he's scared, you can see it in the guy's eyes.
"He has forgot all along in this he has got to come to Liverpool for this! Everyone is behind me.
"This is a fight, and the whole city has come together behind me and I want to thank the whole city."
Welsh-born Cleverly weighed-in just under the limit at 12st 6lb 4oz, while British and Commonwealth champion Bellew was spot on at 12st 7lb.
The pair had almost come to blows at a previous press conference in May, before problems making the weight forced Bellew to pull out.
But Cleverly, 24, claimed he was innocent. He said: "I just stayed calm, got on with business and I can't wait now, the fight is just around the corner."
"He mentioned something like he's going to spark me out, knock me out, something like that, but I've heard it all before.
"He's actually now got to do the talking with his fists rather than his mouth for a change tomorrow night, so I'm just looking forward to seeing it unfold."
"The reason that happened is he put his head in my head; he can't intimidate me, I intimidate him, he's scared, you can see it in the guy's eyes.
"Come tomorrow he's going to pay."
Cleverly steps into the ring in Liverpool with 22 wins in 22 fights, 11 by knock-out, while Bellew's record is almost as impressive with 16 wins from 16 fights (10 KOs).
On the undercard, James DeGale fights Poland's European super-middleweight champion Piotr Wilczewski as he looks to bounce back from his points defeat by George Groves in May, the first loss of his professional career.
"Obviously to lose your 'O' [unbeaten record] is upsetting, but it has happened to a lot of great fighters and it is about the way you bounce back," DeGale said.
"I'm in a fantastic position. To come off a loss and box for the European title is fantastic, and when I win this I'll get a world ranking and all the doors open again.
"I think the public want to see it [a rematch with Groves], because it was so close and controversial.
"That is high on my wish list. If he defends his title [against Paul Smith] and I win this European title, believe me that will happen sooner rather than later."
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sheggs, Liverpool around 7 months, 1 week ago