Bermane Stiverne threatens to ‘kick the s*** out’ of Joe Joyce’s manager

The final press conference between Bermane Stiverne and Joe Joyce descended into chaos on Wednesday, with the former WBC heavyweight champion threatening to ‘kick the s*** out’ of the British fighter’s manager as tempers flared ahead of Saturday’s showdown at the O2.

Stiverne, who began the press conference a man of few, quiet words, boiled over after Joyce’s manager Sam Jones accused him of backing out of a previous sparring session.

The Haiti heavyweight had to be restrained by security officials as he threatened to ‘slap’ Jones and ‘kick the s*** out’ of him.

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Bermane Stiverne threatened to kick the s*** out of Joe Joyce’s manager Same Jones (left)

Jones accused Stiverne of backing out of a previous sparring session with his fighter

Security were forced to intervene as the Haitian heavyweight took execption to the comments

Joyce, for his part, remained calm as tempers flared, while Jones continued to bait his man’s opponent.

‘Don’t get me hot… I can slap you today and still fight Saturday… little b**** that you are,’ a fuming Stiverne told Joyce’s manager.

The melee was in stark contrast to the first half of the press conference, which was cordial and doused with humour from the visiting fighter’s team.

After Stiverne was restrained as he tried to confront Jones, he insisted: ‘I have no issue with Joyce, I respect him as a man… I have nothing but respect for this man, nothing but positivity.’

Joyce remained calm throughout and kept his composure despite the tension around him

Joyce faces his most difficult challenge to date in facing the 40-year-old heavyweight

The two heavyweights collide on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jnr’s clash with James DeGale, with Joyce hoping to steal the show at the O2 with the biggest victory of his career.

Stiverne, who has twice fought Deontay Wilder, represents his toughest test to date. But Joyce is in confident mood, labelling his opponent a ‘stepping stone’ on his route to the top.

His promoter Richard Schaefer, meanwhile, labelled him the best heavyweight in the world.

‘I know how good I am and I just need to show all you guys,’ Joyce said. ‘I’m happy with Richard Schaefer having faith in me so I need to prove to him and to all of you how good I am.’

Joyce hopes to be competing for world honours soon and on a potential clash with Wilder he said: ‘That’s a fight to make in the future, a good route, I like the WBC belt!’

The talking will stop on Saturday night when both men feature on the undercard