With the undercard weigh-in complete, there was still no sign of Azeez. Buatsi pointed to his watch in the direction of the Boxxer staff, gesturing he wanted an update on the delay.

Just as he has done through fight week, Azeez was relaxed and full of smiles when he arrived.

Buatsi, sat on a step by the stage, was even less amused when his opponent agreed to a photo request from a fan.

Any suggestion Azeez’s lateness was down to issues with making weight were squashed when he surprisingly came in more than two pounds under the 12st 7lb limit.

“I’m getting lighter and lighter. I might creep my way to super-middleweight,” Azeez joked.

Having sparred hundreds of rounds together throughout their careers, the rivalry between Buatsi and Azeez has heightened during the past few weeks.

The fight was originally set to take place in October but was rescheduled following a back injury to Azeez.

Buatsi questioned the legitimacy of the injury, prompting Azeez to label him a “diva and a cry baby” on Thursday.

“It’s bragging rights,” Azeez said at Friday’s weigh-in. “Who is going to be crowned king of south London?”.