Fabio Wardley and David Adeleye attended a press conference for their October 28th fight on Tuesday. As the co-main eventers of the Fury-Ngannou headlining fight in Saudi Arabia, Wardley and Adeleye will compete for the British heavyweight title―which is currently held by the former.
During Tuesday’s press conference, the brief altercation that had ensued between the two British fighters on September 7th was briefly brought up and highlighted, and Fabio Wardley (16-0, 15 KO’s) did not appear surprised by David Adeleye’s (12-0, 11 KO’s) behavior during their first altercation.
“There was nothing that I didn’t know already, that I hadn’t seen already,” Wardley assured after being asked on his impressions of Adeleye.
“In other circumstances, he’s a bit jittery. When the camera’s are on, when it’s a big stage, when it’s a big event, people’s personalities show through; and [he appeared] nervous, jittery, on edge, twitchy.“
Fabio Wardley may have been attempting to play mind games with David Adeleye, precisely because of Adeleye’s suspected mental fragilities, but the British heavyweight contender seemed much calmer this time around as opposed to his September 7th meeting with Wardley.
“I call it being on point. That’s all,” Adeleye responded coolly. “If you walk towards me, you get dealt with.“
During the altercation between the two, which was prior to the introductory press conference that officially announced the main event between Tyson Fury (33-0-1, 24 KO’s) and Francis Ngannou (0-0, 0 KO’s), Adeleye could be seen disrupting Wardley during an interview he held with Seconds Out which eventually led to Adeleye pushing the British heavyweight champion back forcibly.
The two subsequently engaged in a mildly-heated back and forth on their microphones as they questioned each other’s intentions.
“It seems jittery,” Fabio Wardley continued. “Do you push everyone that approaches you?“
“In a situation like that, when I’m having an argument with one of your team members, I’m not gonna let some 17-stone guy walk towards me. Of course I’m going to push you back.” Adeleye responded.
“If you weren’t jittery, what’s the need [to push me]?” Wardley replied back. “I’ve had big men I’ve had issues with walk towards me, and I’ve been able to have conversation with them like an adult.“
The issue that arose in September escalated as the two British heavyweights misunderstood each other’s intentions, and the conflict between the two seemed to gradually abate as the press conference went on.
October 28th will get to resolve whatever sentiments linger between the two fighters, as two talented heavyweight professionals get to lace up their gloves in a battle for domestic supremacy in Saudi Arabia.
