The WBC heavyweight champion's all-British title defense against Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium might not be until April 23 but Tyson Fury believes he has got the upper hand already.

Whyte didn't turn up to the first media conference to publicize the fight on Tuesday, with Fury's UK promoter, Frank Warren, claiming the challenger demanded and then turned down the offer of a private jet to fly him over from his Portugal base.

Fury said Whyte's no-show in London "has given me that much more confidence".

"He's definitely shown the white flag in this fight, the way he's going on about not going face to face," Fury said at Wembley. "Of course he doesn't. Because he'll see the fire in my eyes and think, 'I'm getting smashed to bits'.

"It's fear, it's terror, I don't blame him for not being here today … The buildup to the fight will be fantastic because Tyson Fury versus his own shadow sells."