Dillian Whyte has pulled no punches in a recent interview, calling out Tony Bellew after his surprise win over David Haye in his first fight at the heavyweight level, branding the Merseyside boxer a "fake heavyweight".

It would seem that Whyte is eager to get a chance to have a go at Bellew, claiming he would knock him out "in the first six rounds" if they ever shared a ring.

Bellew, however, is not interested in a bout with Whyte, last week dismissing the prospect of a fight between the two.

Bellew is assessing his options while he recovers from an injury to his hand, but Whyte believes he is the only and most recognisable fighter on any shortlist Bellew might compile.

Whyte told Sky Sports News: "I'm one of the highest ranked heavyweights across the board, outside the champions.

"Tony Bellew says 'I wouldn't fight you because you picked David Haye to knock me out in six rounds'. I'm like dude, even your sponsor on your shorts picked David Haye to knock you out. That's why you were 16-1 or something silly like that. Stop talking rubbish and let's fight."

Bellew is not one to shy away from a verbal battle, as was shown by his bitter build-up to his fight with David Haye recently, but he seems wary to be drawn into a war of words with Whyte.

"If you want to prove yourself as a true heavyweight then fight me," said Whyte. 

"If he is struggling to knock out a one-legged man, how is he going to knockout a true heavyweight who always shows up to fight? It's impossible.

"If he wants to stay at heavyweight, he needs to prove to me and the world that he's a natural heavyweight. He's a fake heavyweight and he should go back to cruiserweight."

Meanwhile, Haye is still after a rematch with Bellew, despite rupturing his Achilles tendon during their original bout at the O2 Arena in London and Whyte, not one to mince his words, has had his say on that prospect too.

"Everything has got it's sell-by date and David's sell-by date has passed," said 'The Body Snatcher'.

Whatever the outcome, the British boxing public would openly welcome a showdown between Bellew and Whyte, so expect more words to be shared between the two in the near future.