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British light heavyweight champion Tony Bellew has threatened to "eat and spit out" challenger Danny 'Big Mac' McIntosh when they clash in the ring.
The Bomber revealed a hunger for his Norwich-born opponent inside the Hilton Hotel in his home city of Liverpool ahead of Sky Sports' 'The Big Bang' title fight on Friday.
Challenger McIntosh's seat was empty as Bellew sauntered into a press conference and placed an empty McDonald's Big Mac box in his place.
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchboxing said his absence was due to "heavy traffic" but Bellew dismissed the claim as "disrespectful".
Wearing a blue tracksuit featuring his beloved Everton FC'S crest, Bellew said: "It's a shame Danny's not here and he has shown total disrespect.
"He has known all week what time he should be here and I think he's acting the arse and probably doesn't want to come to Liverpool but when he comes I'm gonna hurt him.
"I don't eat Big Macs very often but I'm going to eat one on Friday night.
"I'm going to put Danny 'Big Mac' McIntosh in my mouth, chew him up and spit him out.".
"He's going to be in for a nasty shock and I'll render him unconscious.
"Danny will be spending his nights taking hot baths to drop about four or five pound and that's how he trains but I'm here and he should be too."
After losing the WBO in a fight to the finish against Nathan Cleverly the 29 year-old said he felt like he was being "punished" despite earning acclaim for his performance.
He said: "To be honest I felt like I was punished after losing in October and for the past few months I've been eager raise my profile so its good to be back on Sky Sports.
"I don't think I lost against Nathan Cleverley.
"I'm eager to get back into the ring because I've been training hard.
"I'm lucky if I get one day off a week and I have an excellent team around me who have been pushing me so it's no coincidence I've improved."
The Bomber will clash with Danny 'Big Mac' McIntosh at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Friday night in an event co-organised by promoters David Caldwell and Eddie Hearn.
Mr Hearn said: "Danny's absence is disappointing but he even if we have to drag him here by his ears the two of them will be walking out into the Echo Arena on Friday.
"Tony is someone I have great respect for because I think he is the best light heavyweight in Britain.
"He's a great character, he's got a great personality and I think that is missing from British boxing."
Coldwell, a former flyweight boxer-turned-promoter, added: "I like Liverpool as a city, I think it's a fighting city and Tony's got the bombs and I can't see it going all the way."
McIntosh withdrew from the original date of 13 April with a chest infection.
The former European and English champion insists he has shaken the illness off and is ready to take on The Bomber.
He has not fought since losing his European title to Eduard Gutknecht in Germany in May after claiming the belt four months earlier against Thierry Karl in France.
In a statement released before the conference McIntosh said: "I was going through a really bad stage in my life and I really wasn't bothered.
"One of my best mates had died.
"But my hunger has come back ten-fold and believe me, Tony had better watch out on the night because Danny Mac is not here for the taking at all.
"It's been a long time since my last fight and I can’t wait to get into the Echo Arena.
"I've trained so hard for this fight and I’m sure Tony has as well.
"I'm sure you’re going to see two fighters 100 per cent up for it on the night.
"You'll see him try to take my head off to no avail - trust me."
