Tyson Fury warned Deontay Wilder that he would knock the American out when they eventually meet in their world heavyweight title fight.
The pair have been calling each other out for months and after Fury despatched Francesco Pianeta at Windsor Park in Belfast they said that the showdown was ‘officially on’.
Wilder climbed into the ring to join Fury, who was given the decision 100-90 on points on referee Steve Gray’s scorecard, and confirmed that they would meet for Wilder’s WBC belt.
Promoter Frank Warren added: "The fight's on. The details will be revealed but the fight's on."
Fury told Wilder: "I'm knocking you the f*** out, boy".
Wilder responded with a threat of his own, saying: "It is one thing that Tyson Fury has never had. He had many belts, but he's never had the WBC belt. And if he ever thinks about having this belt, he better wake up and apologise to me because he'll never have this.
"I can't wait to fight you because I am going to knock you out. I promise you.
"You've never been knocked out but you're going to feel the experience, what it feels to get hit by the Bronze Bomber."
After the fight in Belfast went the full ten rounds, the former world champion was unsurprisingly announced as the winner.
Sections of the crowd present had booed at the fight's conclusion following an uninspiring display from Fury over the Italian journeyman.
Wilder, watching ringside, will have seen little to concern him.
Rounds seven-to-nine demonstrated underdog Pianeta content to survive and the favourite boxing without intent beyond the occasional exchange.
A left hook Fury landed during the eighth was perhaps the best punch he has landed since his comeback began, though he priority is likely the rounds he needs to prepare for Wilder.
A lapse in concentration in the opening round led to him getting trapped in the corner and taking a combination but he classily moved out of danger to end their exchange on top.
Thereafter that he used his superior speed, range and jab to largely control their fight, even if further lapses prevented him from dominating as he can.
Rounds four to six followed a similar pattern, but also exposed some of the rustiness Fury was long expected to demonstrate having fought so few rounds in the previous three years.
His success with the jab, and occasional uppercuts and left hooks showed signs of gradually wearing Pianeta down, but when the Italian landed a left hook Fury nodded in acknowledgement.
It was in the sixth when Fury swung and missed with a wild right hook, a shot he perhaps threw in the knowledge he could take such a risk.
