Joshua,Whyte throw verbal punches over use of language

Although Anthony Joshua and Dallian Whyte are not programmed to face each other in the ring now, the duo have been throwing verball punches following what Whyte dubbed show of hatred on the part of the Nigeria born British boxer.

Whyte, the number one WBC challenger, will face Fury at Wembley Stadium on April 23.

Fury has retreated into a self-forced social media blackout as he prepares for the fight in just under eight weeks. He has also asked for no contact at all with fans and supporters.

Whyte has not taken the same approach, however, and took to Instagram Monday night to respond to comments from AJ, who admitted he would like to meet Whyte for a second time in the ring

‘It’s a good opponent’ [for Fury]it’s a good one Dillian Whyte labels Anthony Joshua ‘number one bulls*** guy’ defense against Dillian Whyte,” Joshua had said in an interview with… IFL TV on the night of Lawrence Okolie’s cruiserweight title defense.

“Dillian Whyte needs to come in, look at what Tyson Fury is doing and reacting to, and do the opposite. Perhaps you are working on the body and being conditioned to bridge the distance.

“I support Dillian even though I hate him, and I want to destroy him one of these days.

“Go on, Dillian, I’m all the way with you.”

Despite supporting his former rival, Whyte objected to Joshua’s disclosure of hate and took to social media to express his annoyance.

“Why so bitter,” Whyte wrote Monday. ‘Number 1 bull*** man. @anthonyjoshua what have I ever done to you man.’

He then reminded Joshua of his own upcoming nemesis in the ring and wished him the best of luck in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua responded in kind on his Instagram. In an effort to defuse the situation, the former heavyweight world champion wrote: “Hate is a strong word, I respect your champion.

“I just want to fight you sometime.”

Joshua and Whyte first met in the amateur ranks in 2009, but in their only professional fight in 2015, Joshua was victorious by technical knockout to defend his Commonwealth and WBC International heavyweight titles.