Tyson Fury has branded Dillian Whyte “a coward” because he is taking so long to sign their fight contract.
Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren won the purse bids for his WBC heavyweight title defence against Whyte and the unbeaten Gypsy King cannot understand why he has still not put pen to paper.
Fury suspects he is scared by the reality of finally facing him after calling him out for years.
“He’s had a lot to say over the years and he’s had a lot to say over the last six months, I wasn’t going to fight him, that I was a coward and that I was going to fight someone else,” he said.
“Now the fight has been put on his toes, he’s gone absolutely silent and who’s the coward now? His white feathers are showing.”
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Wembley on April 23 - St George’s Day - has been pencilled in for this all-British world heavyweight title fight.
It will be the biggest all-British heavyweight clash in the UK since Lennox Lewis defended his WBC title against Frank Bruno in Cardiff 1993.
Fury claims Whyte is wasting his time if he thinks he is getting inside his head by taking so long to sign with the February 19 deadline looming.
“It’s very important to give the fans a fight back home and who better against then a man who’s had a lot to say, a man who has a very high world ranking, a man who is mandatory for my WBC title and a man who kept telling everybody that I was afraid of him and that I’d never fight him,” he said.
“All of a sudden the fight is on his toes and guess what? He won’t sign the contract.
“I think he’s trying some mind games, but he’s messing with the king of mind games.
“I’ve not been told about the venue or actual date yet. I think that news is to follow pretty soon. Frank Warren and Bob Arum are working pretty hard on that behind the scenes to get a massive nailed down and a massive date.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve boxed in the UK, what did Thin Lizzy say? The Boys are back in Town and I’m happy to be home and to put on a show for everybody.
“I believe it will be the biggest boxing event this county has ever seen, for sure.”
Fury was speaking at the launch of his new energy drink, Furocity, in London on Friday and he aims to challenge market leaders Red Bull and Monster.
Fury says he is only interested in his own products, claiming he has turned down tens of millions to endorse gambling, alcohol and drugs because of the damage they do to people’s mental health.
“I don’t like to talk about money, it’s not me,” he said. “But let’s just say tens of millions of dollars have been declined in advertising for gambling companies and CBD oils, alcoholic drinks and whatever else.
“Vodka, gin, different things to put my name to and I’ve never done it. The way I look at things is like this, I haven’t gone wrong too far for not advertising those things, so if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It’s not like I need a few quid to pay my bills.
“You will never ever see me advertise alcohol, gambling or drugs. I’ll only just do all three at a weekend - joking!
“It’s not about the money, it never has been. I always said to myself at the beginning of my career, when it becomes about money, I’ll just walk away because it means you have gone on too long and you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.
“When everything becomes about a few quid then I’ll leave the game for sure because I know through personal experience, material things do not bring happiness.
“You can have all the money in the world and feel like s**t inside, it won’t help you.”
