Rivals pulled off stage after heated exchange ends in slap in fiery Tim Tszyu weigh-in event

Tim Tszyu opted for mind games at Tuesday's weigh-in ahead of his fight with Anthony Velazquez on Wednesday night but the main draw on the card was overshadowed by a fiery clash between two fighters on the undercard.

Things turned physical at the weigh-in, with Jason Fawcett (11-2-0, 3 KOs) and Marco Romeo (8-0-0, 4 KOs) setting the stage for their own fight on Wednesday night after Fawcett slapped Romeo during the stare-down.

Tensions boiled over ahead of their welterweight clash and officials had to quickly jump in to separate the pair after the altercation.

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The insults continued as both fighters hurled verbal barbs as they were dragged off the stage.

Tszyu will go into his bout lighter than the American, and is usually no-nonsense at weigh-ins, which also includes the customary face-off after making weight.

But this was different.

With new trainer Pedro Diaz beside him, Tszyu, who tipped the scales at 70.82kg, kept staring at Velazquez long after the US fighter had moved away from the face-off.

Tszyu is usually all business during the weigh-in, yet on Tuesday, he seemed intent on getting in the American's head with his conduct for a fight that briefly appeared to be under threat this week due to the ghastly Bondi attack on Sunday night.

Velazquez initially put his sunglasses on before going face-to-face with the Australian, removing the glasses halfway through the stare-down.

As Tszyu's eyes remained on the American, his trainer, Victor Bermudez, tapped him on the back in a sign to finish engaging with Tszyu.

He did so, yet Tszyu remained in place, forcing Velazquez, who weighed in at 71.04kg, to come face to face with him once more.

When he did that, a member of his team pulled him away, aware of Tszyu's tactics.

The American stood his ground, though, and eventually put his hand out to shake Tszyu's, and he obliged with a smile, before flexing for the cameras.

"I'm just really locked," Tszyu said.

"His eyes are a bit wobbly. When we get into the ring, it will be a different story."

Tszyu said he saw nerves in Velazquez's eyes.

"It's a whole different occasion for him. He can say what he wants."

He added: "I used to care about how many people were at the weigh-in. I don't care about this stuff or coming in certain cars.

"I really don't. I'm just focused on what I have to do tomorrow night"

- with Sophie Wisely