Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua came face-to-face in London on Wednesday ahead of their long-awaited heavyweight clash, with the British rivals striking a surprisingly cordial tone before their December 11 meeting at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Fury, 38, and Joshua, 36, have been linked with a fight for more than a decade, with previous attempts to make the contest falling apart during negotiations. After uncertainty earlier this week over contractual issues surrounding the promotion, the pair appeared together to formally launch a bout which will bring two former heavyweight world champions together in the ring.

“He’s been a role model and poster boy for British boxing for years,” said Fury. “I mostly find myself defending my arch rival to fans in the street.” Addressing suggestions that the contest has arrived too late in their respective careers, Fury added: “It’s the icing on the cake of two great careers.”

Joshua also spoke about the significance of finally staging the fight in Britain. “It’s breathtaking and I’m not saying that lightly,” he said. “I’m really grateful for this opportunity and bringing it to Great Britain because I know people in pubs have had proper fights about who will win and family members have fallen out.”

There was still some competitive talk between the two, with Fury predicting he would stop Joshua. “When I crack him on the jaw with a big right hand, he’s going down,” Fury said, prompting Joshua to respond with Fury’s own familiar catchphrase: “Get up.” Fury later suggested the pair put their long-running rivalry behind them once the fight is over. “I hope after this fight we can have a pint of Guinness together,” he said. “Win, lose or draw, let’s bury the hatchet.”

The December 11 contest has been reported as being for the vacant WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title, although the team of current WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev has lodged a formal objection over the proposed title arrangement.

Fury and Joshua have competed in a combined 21 world title fights and first shared a ring during a sparring session in 2010, when Joshua was still an amateur. Despite years of public exchanges, negotiations and failed attempts to arrange a professional meeting, December’s contest will mark the first time the two British heavyweights have fought each other professionally.