Hostilities threatened to commence early when the protagonists for the main event of Contenders Norwich 17 came face-to-face earlier today.
Jason Radcliffe (10-2) and Wilfried Edmund (6-2) will do battle for the Contenders middleweight belt at the Norfolk Showground tomorrow night.
But when they squared off after weighing in earlier, the result was an intense staredown.
Neither man would break their gaze, culminating with the explosive Radcliffe, who's won five straight fights in the first round, pushing his French foe forcefully away.
Afterwards, a relaxed and smiling Radcliffe said: 'I don't care what Wilfried says.
'If I can fold him early, I'll fold him early, but at the end of the day it's three five-minute rounds.
'I've watched his fights and I know he tends to go the distance, but we've been training for a long fight.
'I'm ready to go the distance. Expect an exciting fight and exciting result – it's going to be a big show.'
Edmund, who has never been stopped, was also confident after the confrontation.
'It's going to be exciting,' he said.
'But I have never been knocked out or submitted and he has been – both.'
Elsewhere, Ipswich featherweight Corrin Eaton (8-2) brightened up proceedings by weighing in sporting a Santa hat, tinsel and Santa-themed pants.
He faces the relatively unknown Igor Mora-Camino (6-4) who promised to 'crush' the Suffolk fighter.
And unbeaten Wisbech flyweight Jamie Powell (7-0) had an intense staredown of his own with Spanish opponent Daniel Barez (6-4).
Powell said this week: 'He's aggressive and quite a good striker.
'But he's not on the same level as me, and I see that he's got weaknesses on the ground.
'If I feel like he's having the better of it striking then I'll take him down and go to work. But I know he won't be better than me, so I'd like to keep it standing and knock him out.'
Thetford's Andre Goncalves (2-0-1) looked lean and focused as he weighed in ahead of his lightweight scrap with Kim Thinhaugen (4-3).
Goncalves promised that he's fitter than he's ever been and intends to put on a show for the fans at the showground tomorrow.
– Fights start at 6.15pm tonight, go to www.contendersea.com for more information.
The fights will be shown on Mustard TV on Thursday at 9.30pm.
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