UNBEATEN heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte have begun trading barbs ahead of their British title clash at the O2 Arena on December 12.
The pair fought as novices in the amateurs with Whyte prevailing on points, but the momentum is now with Olympic champion Joshua who is yet to be taken past three rounds as a professional.
Whyte however has refused to show respect to his fellow Londoner, constantly branding him a fraud and he got in Joshua’s face during a recent The Gloves Are Off Sky Sports special.
“Youโre just a big Audley Harrison mate, your heart will fail you. Trust me,” he said.
“My mind set, itโs always been my thing. Iโll fight anybody anywhere, Iโm not scared of anybody. Iโm not scared of a skinny body builder.
“Iโve been knocking guys like him out for a long time. You want me to tell you why heโs fake? When youโre with him and youโre not around cameras he acts a certain way, Iโve spent time with him.”
To which Joshua responded: “Whatโs fake about providing for your family, earning a straight living, trying to be a role model and bringing boxing back to where it should be? Whatโs fake about that?”
Joshua also admitted he hopes to have a tough night against Whyte in a bid to give fans a more exciting fight.
“Do you know what the main thing is for me? Regardless of what he blurts out and regardless of what I may blurt out, it will be a real pleasure if me and him go to war, and we do go 12 rounds and itโs a good fight.
“I was watching the Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti trilogy yesterday. I was thinking how brilliant it would be if we have a real dust up, and bring something exciting back to British boxing.”