Dillian Whyte has labelled Kiwi Joseph Parker a "coward" ahead of their heavyweight showdown at London’s 02 Arena on July 29 (NZ time).
The crucial fight has title implications, with the winner in the box seat to challenge for Deontay Wilder's WBC championship, and Anthony Joshua’s WBO, WBA and IBF belts.
Parker and Whyte went face to face in the Sky Sports UK show Gloves Are Off, where the two foes sit in front of each other and answer tough questions.
- Parker 'hungry' for title shot
- Top trainer predicts stoppage loss for Parker
- Whyte questions Parker's fighting spirit
Whyte was asked what he thought of Parker's losing efforts against Joshua on April 1 - and the 30-year-old Briton didn’t hold back.
Whyte, whose only career defeat was by TKO to Joshua, said the Aucklander fought like a coward in the ring.
"His performance was cautious, but it was also cowardly as well," Whyte said. "I understand it's a big fight and he needs to be cautious, but… you're in the home fighter's country, where the champion is a golden boy.
"Six or seven rounds in, you know you'll be down on the scorecards, there comes a time when you've got to go after it and I just feel he was too much of a coward to make the decisions he needed to make.
"He wasn't hurt at any point during the fight, he didn’t get stung or anything, he didn't want to make the decision to go after him and now he regrets it. It is a coward's mindset."
Parker compared his unanimous-decision loss to Whyte's seventh-round TKO defeat and declared himself the better fighter.
In response, Whyte claimed Parker had let down New Zealand with his performance.
"He had his whole country over, doing the haka, and then he let them down. He didn't show the warrior spirit or warrior’s courage that I expect of him, from where he's from."
Parker's camp was furious at referee Giuseppe Quartarone during the Joshua loss, claiming he did not speak English and wouldn’t let the fight flow.
But Whyte said the Kiwi needed to accept responsibility for the loss and stop blaming others.
"He never showed that tribal instinct or warrior instinct. I believe his mindset for that fight was to go 12 rounds - that was his victory for that fight.
"That's why I believe you didn't seem too bothered at the end of the fight. Don't blame the ref, blame yourself - you should have gone after him."
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