Anthony Joshua doubts Tyson Fury is as intimidating as he is made out to be ahead of a potential unification clash.
The world champions hope to fight each other next year in the first undisputed heavyweight showdown for over 20 years.
WBC and lineal belt holder Fury should be the favourite in the fight, but Joshua insists the Gypsy King is yet to earn his respect.
He told Sky Sports: ‘What have you seen from Fury? A couple of feints? Moving around? What have you seen that makes him seem so intimidating? Speed?
‘If the sport is lacking so much talent then all you need is feints and movement to be classed as a great of this generation…..
‘With hard work, motivation and studying you can overcome that.
‘So what do people see in Fury that is so fearsome, intimidating, that he can’t be touched at the top level?
‘I take him as a serious challenger, of course. But resume? It’s taken him a long time to grow.
‘His fight with Wladimir Klitschko was his first real challenge and he overcame it, but it took him eight years to build his experience and confidence.
‘Then he had two years out and fought Deontay Wilder.
‘He hasn’t been in the deep end for long enough to show me that he can swim there for a long time.
‘You have to continually prove that you belong there. You don’t just come there once or twice.
‘For me as a fighter, that’s how you gain my respect.’
Fury and Joshua bumped into each other on holiday in Marbella last week, having a quick chat by the Spanish coastline.
Both heavyweights hyped a fight after their chance meeting and Joshua also explained what happened when he ran into Fury fans.
‘I bumped into Fury last week,’ he said.
‘It’s funny because I was at a pool party, chilling with a couple of my boys, some of my mates live out there.
‘Fury fans were there. There was a healthy, sporting divide – Fury and AJ. They were shouting “Tyson Fury” as I walked off.
‘I gave them a gesture [middle finger] to let them know that I’m still here, I’m one of the lads as well.
‘On my way back they tried to do it again so I confronted them.
‘I said: “I’m here for the banter but let’s not make it a disrespectful thing. We’re all just here for a good time”.
‘That calmed that situation down. Next minute, I bumped into Fury.
‘It’s only right me and him will bump heads soon. We’ll put on a great show for the British public and the world. It’s going to be a massive fight.’
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