Sunday 10 December 2017 17:26, UK
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has challenged Tony Bellew to a fight claiming he would knock him out if the pair were ever to meet in the ring.
Fury has not boxed since beating Wladimir Klitschko to claim the world heavyweight title back in November 2015, and is looking to get back in the ring as soon as possible.
The 29-year-old had his boxing licence stripped, and he is waiting the resumption of an anti-doping case after being charged with "the presence of a prohibited substance" in June 2016.
Bellew is set to face Haye in a rematch at The O2 on May 5, live on Sky Sports Box Office, after pulling off an upset win over the former world heavyweight champion in March.
Fury and Bellew locked horns in a verbal bout when both fighters appeared on Soccer PM on Saturday, with the Merseysider claiming he would be happy to take on the fight as soon as he deals with Haye.
Here is a transcript of their no-holds barred verbal joust.
Fury: "I'm a bad man, I'm a pretty hard character to beat in the ring, and my unorthodox approach comes as a bit of a shock to everybody. I'm anything but textbook.
"Bellew? I quaking in my boots. I don't know what weight division he is, light-heavyweight, cruiserweight, heavyweight, what is he?
"It's alright calling out someone my size but you've actually got to be big enough to get in there and fight somebody my size. Tony Bellew, what can I say about him?
"Tony is very vocal on wanting to fight me 'Stavros Flatley', me looking like a very fat man of course, but talking is one thing, signing contracts is another thing.
"I did say that if Tony Bellew signs a contract then it will be a ceiling job and that means an uppercut, and bang he hits the roof.
"They may call you the bomber, but unless you have an atomic bomb then 'The Furious One' will annihilate you."
Bellew: "Get that hearing over and done and I will get past the Hayefaker once again like I did the last time, and then I'm good to meet you head-on big fella, no problem.
"I will hit that Desperate Dan chin so hard it won't get up like it did against Steve Cunningham.
"Everyone is running from you, everyone is scared of you, but I ain't son.
"I'll be going right at you. We both have a few obstacles to get over. I have to get rid of the other fella (Haye) and Tyson's got a few issues going on.
"When all is said and done I have a lot of respect for Tyson Fury, the man can ultimately fight very well.
"Everyone is going on about he fighting a really big heavyweight, he's not the biggest one-punch fighter but comes with a very different set of skills, very awkward, very classy for a big man, and I have to overcome that.
"As long as he doesn't come dressed as Batman then I'm in with a shout."
