In the lead-up to Sunday’s big heavyweight fight, the two combatants – Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk – engaged in the longest stare-down I have ever seen.

That is quite an achievement, as I have followed boxing for over forty years, and have not seen anything like this before.

Experts and commentators alike were perplexed by the duration of this psychological battle, where neither man was prepared to give an inch – until concerned event organisers and members of their entourages stepped in before anything stupid could happen.

I have added a link below – courtesy of TNT Sports Boxing YouTube Channel – where the strange scene can be watched in its entirety.

Usyk v Fury II is expected to begin at around 9am Sunday morning. (Australian time)

Photos and video courtesy of TNT Sports Boxing.