The pre-fight antics ahead of most big fights have largely become rather tedious.

More often than not, two snarling fighters fling X-rated insults at each other from either end of a table.

Perhaps the rival camps will engage in a little push and shove at the face off, theatrics that rarely but increasingly likely will lead to a slap or two, before one or both fighters are led out the room hurling abuse at whoever gets in their way.

It's as predictable as it is tiresome, not least due to the manufactured nature of these rivalries.

There's nothing artificial about the rivalry between British heavyweights Dillian Whyte and two-time world heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.

The patient challenger and the brash world champion have made frequent desultory comments to each other on social media over the years, stemming from Whyte's claim that he made Fury cry while sparring almost a decade ago.

Whyte didn't even turn up to the first press conference to sell the fight, prompting Fury to brand him "Frillian Whytenickers".

So to see the pair laughing and joking at this week's final press conference ahead of Saturday night's fight at a sold-out Wembley stadium was incongruous to say the least.

To see them acting as peace-makers in a spat between their respective support staff was even more bewildering.

"Sometimes you need to be a bit diplomatic," Fury said.

"Both men are being paid to fight, so why do it all a few days before?"

The pair then swapped hats at Friday's weigh in, where Fury came in at 119kgs, his lightest fighting weight since his 2019 victory over Otto Wallin.

Dillian Whyte eager to take his chance

Whyte has had to be patient for his shot at a world title.

The 34-year-old has, according to some estimates, been first in line for a shot at the WBC version of the world title for more than 1,500 days.

Despite a stellar 28-2 professional career featuring victories over many of the division's biggest names — Alexander Povetkin, New Zealand's Joseph Parker, Derrick Chisora, to name but three — this will be Whyte's first shot at a world title belt.

His two defeats came against fellow Brit Anthony Joshua in 2018, a devastating knockout that left him hanging on the lower rope of the ring at London's O2 Arena, and a shock knockout defeat to Alexander Povetkin in Brentwood in 2020, which he avenged the following year.

Whyte was first named as mandatory challenger for the WBC belt — then held by Deontay Wilder — in mid-2019.

However, Whyte had to wait for his shot as Fury and Wilder played out their thrilling trilogy.

Also complicating Whyte's mandatory status was a disputed drug test result that Whyte was eventually cleared of.

A brawler whose relentless attacks to the body earned him the nickname "body snatcher", Whyte will pressurise Fury throughout, despite giving up 13cm in height and 18cm in reach.

"This is a heavyweight boxing fight, anyone can win with one punch," Fury said at the pleasingly respectful press conference.

"If I'm not on my A-game, he's going to knock my head off my shoulders.

Is Tyson Fury going to retire after this fight?

That's what the champion has said, even if his father said it was rubbish.

The unbeaten fighter — who previously held the IBF, WBO and WBA belts before vacating as he dealt with mental health issues and drug use — has a record of 31-0-1.

His only blemish is that contested draw with Wilder in the first bout of their trilogy. 

"I've won every belt in the world that there is to win. I've broke all records," Fury told TalkSport at the open workout on Tuesday, another pre-fight obligation ignored by Whyte, incidentally.

"I've won every single belt there is to win in the sport and I'm getting out healthy, in one piece and undefeated."

He has held all the major belts, but not simultaneously as undisputed champion.

Prior to the Whyte fight being announced, Fury actively pursued a unification bout with Oleksander Usyk.

That fell through when former two-time champion Anthony Joshua refused to step aside, opting instead to try to win his belts back for a second time in a rematch with Usyk, who battered the champion in London in September.

That Joshua-Usyk rematch is expected to take place in July.

What's the deal with Daniel Kinahan?

Daniel Kinahan is an Irish national who allegedly leads the Kinahan crime cartel.

US investigators — in combination with Irish and British law enforcement agencies — have launched coordinated action against what the US says is one of the world's largest crime groups.

Investigators are offering a reward of up to $5 million for information on the three most-senior members and has issued financial sanctions against the group.

Irish police said in a statement earlier this week that, if any group deals with the syndicate, it is "absolutely explicit" they are involved in a criminal enterprise.

What has this got to do with boxing?

Fury used to be promoted by MTK Global, a promotions company started by Kinahan.

Kinahan said he has not been involved in MTK Global since 2017 and the company released a statement this week saying he had no involvement in the group.

Fury said that contract ended in 2020, adding that he had "absolutely zero" to do with Kinahan when questioned on Tuesday.

When is Fury vs Whyte?

The fight is set for Saturday, April 23, at Wembley Stadium, that will be Sunday morning in Australia.

Its undercard — featuring Tommy Fury — is set to get underway at 6pm local time, which is 3am AEST Sunday.

The main event is likely to take place some time after 7am AEST.

How can I watch Fury vs Whyte in Australia?

The fight is being shown on Stan's pay-per-view channel in Australia.

It will cost $60 to stream.