A few days before the fight, London remains committed to looking exactly like London. The sky stays stubbornly gray, the streets remain wet, and drizzle appears far more interested in visiting than the sun.
For most Londoners, this is hardly worth noticing. Malik Adebayo is no different, walking comfortably along the pavement without an umbrella, wrapped in a heavy coat and a beanie that makes him look more prepared for winter than a world title fight.
The trouble begins when he passes through a quiet alley and notices a man walking several yards ahead, moving slowly while repeatedly wiping his nose.
Then the man suddenly stops, tilting his head upward, as though waiting for something to happen.
Malik barely gives him a second glance. But then, just as they pass each other…
"Hyaachooo!"
The man throws his head sharply to the left, and a fine spray of saliva and mucus lands across the right side of Malik's coat.
Malik stops dead, caught off guard.
"Hey, watch out!"
