Tyson Fury has called heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua a 'disgrace' for avoiding Deontay Wilder, saying he wouldn't be afraid to face the American in the U.S.

Joshua (21-0, 20 KOs), the WBA, IBF and WBO title holder, fights mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin (34-1, 24 KOs) at Wembley Stadium on September 22, but was in talks with Wilder, the WBC holder, about a potential unification fight.

Talks collapsed despite a $50 million offer from the Wilder camp and the fight is now widely expected to take place at Wembley in April.

"I think it's such a sad time for heavyweight boxing," said Fury, 29, in a video posted on his Twitter account. "You've got the so-called super champion and golden boy Anthony Joshua and he is avoiding Deontay Wilder and is not fighting him at any cost.

"If you're not going to fight him for £40m you're not going to fight him for anything.

"It's a disgrace and he's a disgrace to boxing and I think it needs somebody good enough to step up and take on the challenges and not be afraid, not be afraid to take risks and go to people's backyards and do it.

"Can you imagine if I went to America and beat Deontay Wilder in America after beating Wladimir Klitschko in Germany. That would be sensational, it might happen, who knows, wait for the news..."

Fury (26-0, 19 KOs) continues his comeback following an extended absence against Francesco Pianeta (35-4, 21 KOs) at Windsor Park, Northern Ireland on August 18.

He defeated Sefer Seferi in June, in his first fight since defeating Klitschko in November 2015, and has been linked with future fights with Joshua and Wilder.