Hollywood actor Tony Bellew has slammed Tyson Fury's choice of opponent for his upcoming fight against Francesco Pianeta this Saturday in Belfast.

Fury will enter the ring for the second time this year at Windsor Park to face the relatively unknown Italian, having beaten Sefer Seferi back in June.

Rumours regarding a potential showdown with Deontay Wilder later in 2018 have intensified in recent weeks but Bellew doesn't think Fury is preparing in the right fashion to beat the WBC champion.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Bellew, who is now set to drop back down to cruiserweight after back-to-back wins over David Haye to face Oleksandr Usyk in a unification clash, said: "At the minute it's a bit of a freak show with Tyson Fury.

"But to be fair he has been out of the ring for the best part of three years and he hasn't lived the best lifestyle, so you can't expect to come back into this sport and this business and take on top competitors.

"He is definitely not ready for Deontay Wilder.

"Pianeta is a 6ft 5in, 17 1/2 stone southpaw. How is that preparing him - in any way, shape or form - for a 6ft 7in, possibly the biggest puncher in the whole world?" 

Fury may claim he is still the lineal champion but Bellew, who tried to coax the 30-year-old into facing him too, believes his heavyweight rival still has to something prove and predicts Wilder would beat him within three rounds.

"I always thought David Haye would beat Fury, because of the styles. Tyson Fury is a vulnerable heavyweight, there's no two ways about that."

But since his return to the ring, Fury has already been looking forward to what would be a blockbusting fight against one of the 'big two' in Wilder or Anthony Joshua.

"I don't think he'd ever beat Wilder. Styles make fights but when you're talking about Wilder, no-one knows what he is going to do - because he doesn't know either.

"Fury against Wilder would be over in three rounds, at the most.

"He is not a big man who can absorb everything. He is vulnerable and he can be hurt, and when you are coming across guys with the speed and explosive power, like Deontay Wilder and Haye, it isn't good."

Should, if as expected, Fury overcome Pianeta on Saturday night, it is thought the clash with Wilder in America could be announced within days.