Tony Bellew has claimed he was stopped from fighting Tyson Fury by Eddie Hearn, with the former boxing star also lavishing praise on Anthony Joshua.
Bellew retired from the sport back in 2018 after losing to Oleksandr Usyk, who faces Fury this weekend.
The 41-year-old remains involved in boxing, however, with the Liverpool-born star since working as an analyst and commentator.
And Bellew, speaking to Boyle Sports, who provide the latest boxing betting, has now claimed he was due to fight Fury prior to his retirement.
Boxing news: Tony Bellew has opened up on Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua ahead of this weekend's action
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However, Hearn apparently stopped the clash from happening because he felt they couldn't 'rely' on the Gypsy King.
"I met up with Tyson Fury and we were going to fight each other because David Haye had pulled out of the rematch with me," he said.
"We agreed on everything and Eddie Hearn just said 'no chance, we can't rely on him' and that got put to bed.
"If I would have fought Tyson Fury when I was asking to fight him, there's no chance in the world he would have beaten me.
"He was three years out of the ring, off his cake drunk as a skunk for three years.
"And I was in the prime of my career, but he wanted a warm up fight. I knew if he had one warm up fight, he would have spanked me.
"He said 'Tony, I need a warm up fight, if I don't, you have a good chance of beating me'. I said 'that's why I'm here.'"
Bellew also discussed Joshua, who is a man on the up once again.
AJ was written off by many after losing to Usyk twice but, having won his last four fights, is now rediscovering his best form.
And Bellew thinks Joshua would beat both Fury and Deontay Wilder if they get to face each other, adding: "AJ is evolving as a fighter and I just don't think he's been that confident - I know what he worries about, he worries about gassing.
"The antidote to gassing, if you're involved in a war, is to let your hands go and be free.
"The antidote is to knock people out. Just chin them. And that's the kind of confidence he's gaining with Ben [Davison].
"On current form AJ knocks Wilder out inside two rounds. He didn't throw a punch against Parker, I understand there's stuff going on in the background in his life, but he got in there and didn't want to fight."
Furthermore, Bellew also thinks the world needs to see Fury and Joshua fight after years of speculation.
That could finally happen if Fury beats Usyk - but Bellew wants it to happen regardless of the result on Saturday night.
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Boxing news: Tony Bellew has claimed Eddie Hearn stopped him from fighting Tyson Fury
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"Without a shadow of a doubt [we could get AJ-Fury next]," he admitted.
"I wouldn't say it's most probable but there's a huge chance.
"I think Fury-Usyk could be an absolute stinker and if it is, who is going to want to see the rematch? Even if Fury loses, who wouldn't want to see Fury-AJ?
"It would be the biggest fight out there. It's huge, it's astronomical.
"As long as Fury doesn't get embarrassed, it's absolutely huge.
Boxing news: Tony Bellew feels Anthony Joshua would beat Tyson Fury in a potential fight
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"I always say AJ knocks out Fury. I just think he catches him, especially the version of AJ I'm seeing right now.
"I'm seeing a guy with the utmost confidence who is letting his hands go."
