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.
“You’re just a big Audley Harrison mate, your heart will fail you. Trust me,” he said.
“My mind set, it’s always been my thing. I’ll fight anybody anywhere, I’m not scared of anybody. I’m not scared of a skinny body builder.
“I’ve been knocking guys like him out for a long time. You want me to tell you why he’s fake? When you’re with him and you’re not around cameras he acts a certain way, I’ve spent time with him.”
To which Joshua responded: “What’s 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? What’s 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 it’s 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.”
