Tyson Fury mocked Anthony Joshua by labelling him a ‘disgrace’ for not fighting Deontay Wilder.
The former world heavyweight champion hit out a the current WBA, IBF, IBO and WBO title holder for turning down a £37m offer to travel to America to face Wilder.
Joshua, 28, offered Wilder a deal in return to face him in the UK but the contracts never got signed and he will instead defend his titles against Alexander Povetkin on September 22 at Wembley.
But Fury, who faces Francesco Pianeta next month, said: “It’s such a sad time for heavyweight boxing.
“You have the so-called super champion and golden boy Anthony Joshua and he is avoiding Deontay Wilder and will not fight him at any cost.
“If you’re not going to fight someone for £40m (sic), you’re not going to fight him for anything.
“It’s a disgrace and he’s a disgrace to boxing.”
Fury made an impressive return to the ring last month with a fourth-round stoppage over the hapless Sefer Seferi.
He had been out of boxing since he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko as heavyweight king in November 2015.
Fury had suffered mental health problems but was also involved in a legal battle with UK Anti-Doping over an alleged failed drugs test in February 2015.
The Manchester fighter accepted a backdated two-year ban and has now shed over eight stone as he aims to get back into contention for world titles.
He faces Pianeta on the undercard of Carl Frampton’s clash with Luke Jackson at Windsor Park in Belfast on August 18.
But he also hinted he could soon take on WBC title holder Wilder if the Joshua fight does not happen.
He added: “It takes someone good enough to step up and take the challenge and not be afraid – not be afraid to take risks and go to someone’s backyard and do it.
“Can you imagine if I went to America and beat Deontay Wilder in America after beating Klitschko in Germany? That would be sensational. It might happen.”
