Anthony Joshua and Dominic Breazeale square up outside London hotel as pair prepare for IBF heavyweight showdown 

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Anthony Joshua and Dominic Breazeale were involved in a heated confrontation outside a Brentford hotel on Wednesday, seven weeks ahead of their scheduled engagement for the IBF heavyweight title on the other side of London.

Joshua took exception to Breazeale’s attempts to intimidate him when they went face-to-face for the first time before their June 25 meeting at the O2, when the Londoner will defend the belt he won from Charles Martin last month.

‘There was some elbow jostling,’ Joshua said. ‘It was handbag wars. I’m a respectful person so I shook his hand but when I went to walk off he was still there looking at me. I thought, “Is this guy being serious?”

Anthony Joshua and Dominic Breazeale went face-to-face for the first time before their fight on Wednesday

The pair will contest the IBF heavyweight title when they enter the ring at the O2 Arena on June 25

‘I said to him, “What is your problem? Don’t be here breathing heavy and staring me down and stuff because it’s not worth your time”. You shouldn’t get into that. In the ring it’s a different story. It’s not worth wasting energy beforehand.’

The question is whether the pavement flare-up will prove more competitive than the fight, with Joshua having made it through his first 16 opponents with precious little trouble.

Breazeale, a former college quarter-back in the US, has won all 17 of his fights, 15 inside the distance, but has never faced a fighter close to Joshua’s calibre. 

On Wednesday Joshua predicted this fight ‘will not go the distance’, with his intention to fight again in November, possibly against Tyson Fury.

Joshua took exception to Breazeale’s attempts to intimidate him outside a hotel in Brentford

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that he has spoken to Tyson Fury's trainer about a showdown

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, said: ‘I've already spoken to Peter Fury (Fury’ s trainer) last week. He runs the shop for Tyson Fury and makes all the decisions.

‘We've talked about the deal and the structure of the deal already, so we've just got to keep winning. Tyson Fury wants the big fights, the big pay days and we want those belts.

‘If it's not November then 100 per cent next spring or summer.’

Fury has appeared significantly overweight in the early build-up to his July 9 rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, though Joshua is convinced he will fight Fury in the near future regardless of the latter’s insistence that he will retire after facing Klitschko.

Joshua said: ‘He’s in training camp and his mind is probably unsettled, being away from home. 

'When you’re in camp you’re on edge and sometimes you want to be vocal. When he has time to chill out he will probably change.

‘We will still fight and it will be massive.’

Joshua intends to face heavyweight champion Fury in the ring either later this year or early next year