Deontay Wilder is fuelling the fire with opponent Tyson Fury as we approach the trilogy-ending fight coming on October 9.
The last fight between the two came in February last year and saw Fury undoubtedly dominate the rounds, dropping the American to the canvas twice before finishing him via TKO in the seventh round and adding the WBC and The Ring heavyweight titles to his already impressive collection.
And as the fighters prepare for their highly anticipated bout next month, Wilder looks adamant on stirring the pot in an attempt to get in his opponent’s head by referencing Fury’s failed drug test post-Hammer win in February 2015.
He told 78SPORTSTV: "Look at Tyson Fury's rap sheet, he's one of the biggest cheats in boxing, but do you ever hear about it?
"They don't care.
"When it's all said and done, all over for me, I can look myself in the face, in the mirror and say, 'I did it the right way."
Following an eighth-round TKO to Germany’s Christian Hammer, the 33-year-old tested positive for using anabolic steroid nandrolone, which is banned by all measures in the sport.
The case was handled by UK Anti-Doping and saw The Gypsy King handed a two-year suspension in December 2017.
Wilder has made his feelings clear on the matter of performance-enhancers in boxing, saying: “All these fighters taking PEDs, you’re cowards.
“It’s pitiful. It’s all about money, boxing’s all about money.”
He even hit out at those in charge of the sport and their lack of intervention, adding: “It seems the people that have power in boxing don’t care either because they’re making excuses for these cowards.”
The two were initially set to face in July for the final instalment of the trilogy, but a positive case of COVID for the Brit saw the clash being postponed and set for October - and Wilder believes it still might not go ahead yet, as he said: “If he don’t show up he’s going to have to suffer the consequences, the penalties that’ve been set forth.
“If he don’t fight, then pay me what you’re supposed to pay me.
"Then you have to give up that belt as well.
“So it’s a win-win situation for me, it’s a lose-lose situation for him.
"That’s the great thing about it cause, the saying has always said that history repeats itself.
"We know his actions are always the same, he’s done this many of times where he tries to get out of fights."
However, the undefeated champion has already set his sights past the Wilder fight.
When talking to BT Sport, Fury detailed his plans for the next year-and-a-half in boxing. Assuming he defeats Wilder, he then aims to agree deals with Dillian Whyte, Anthony Joshua x2 (rematch) and Derek Chisora.
The Brit added: “That may seem ridiculous, but considering I said I was going to be World Heavyweight Champion at seven years old, and I said every single thing I was ever gonna do - and did it, you cannot write me off at all. You have to believe what I’m saying.”