A focused Anthony Joshua said “I’m here to fight, not party” as he refused to engage in any real trash talk with heavyweight Otto Wallin before Saturday’s bout.

His demeanour has been the talk of fight week, Joshua looking disengaged in interviews and media events.

“I want to fight. I want to perform well. Put that pressure on myself,” Joshua said.

The two-time world champion appeared more relaxed in a mostly cordial news conference on Thursday.

“I’m here to fight, I’m not here to party and get caught up in the glitz and glamour,” Joshua said.

“Of course I’m tense because I want to perform, I want to win. I’ve got that urge to win and I want to hurt my opponent as well.”

A win against Sweden’s Wallin, 33, could set up the long-awaited blockbuster bout against Deontay Wilder, who takes on Joseph Parker in the co-main event.

Joshua added: “I can definitely window shop, I know where I’m going in my life. If I don’t get past this there is no future.”

The rivalry between Joshua and Wilder has been bubbling away for years, since both held world titles. Until now their feud had been aired out almost exclusively in public through interviews and social media.

An announcement could be made post fight, but organisers are wary injuries or a gruelling contest might delay the date.

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said “nothing [has been] agreed”.

‘When you’re watching me, don’t blink’

Former world champion Wilder was uncharacteristically chilled in London last month, even shaking Joshua’s hand. He has since reignited their feud, telling BBC Sport Joshua doesn’t have “the heart” to face him.

But Wilder was once again respectful of Joshua at the news conference on Thursday in Riyadh.

“A lot of people asking me about his demeanour and the way he’s been reacting to the media. I can’t speak for him,” Wilder said.

While Joshua stopped short of talking up a knockout against Wallin, Alabama fighter Wilder was full of his usual bravado.

“When you’re watching me, don’t blink,” the hard-hitting Wilder said. “I’m going to give you what you want to see. Nowadays my name is called Doctor Sleep.”

Joshua refused to speak with host Dev Sahni of Queensberry Promotions at the open workout on Wednesday. His team requested Matchroom Boxing’s Hearn ask his fighter questions at the news conference instead of Sahni.

Wallin tried his utmost to aggravate Joshua, saying: “From what I see, he seems very stiff and tense. Maybe he’s fed up with all this stuff.”

A vocal Wallin later attempted to spark a war of words in the head-to-head, but a stern-looking Joshua opted to keep quiet.

The worst case scenario for organisers would be a defeat for one or both of Joshua and Wilder. Wallin and Parker are live contenders and neither fight is a foregone conclusion.

“It won’t be an upset, stop calling it an upset,” Wallin said. Parker was in equally confident mood.

Analysis – Joshua composed in a card littered with jeopardy

Joshua appeared more composed than he has done throughout the week. He even ended the event by opening up questions to the floor – not usually the norm at pre-fight boxing news conferences.

With all the talk of who is the main event of this star-studded card, Joshua – who will headline on Saturday – has certainly been the most in-demand fighter from the media.

Meanwhile, the sight of promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, who say up until last month they had never met, shaking hands is still taking some getting used to.

Undercard fighters Jarrell Miller and Daniel Dubois provided the real entertainment at the news conference. The usually reserved Dubois matching Miller’s trash talk.

But as the the sporting world eagerly awaits a Christmas bonanza featuring a stacked card of boxing superstars, fight week has been slightly flat in Riyadh.

When Wilder screamed his catchphrase ‘bomb squad’ at Tuesday’s news conference, there were some perplexed looks from Saudi passers-by.

From a boxing perspective, this card is littered with intrigue and jeopardy. Will Joshua and/or Wilder avoid potential banana skins? If they both win, will their blockbuster fight be announced straight away with a face-to-face in the ring?