World champion Anthony Joshua says he is desperate to take on Tyson Fury after his rival claimed Joshua couldn't "lace his boots".
Fury had a UK Anti-Doping hearing postponed last month and it is not clear when he could return to the ring, with his licence still suspended.
Heavyweight title holder Joshua, who beat Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in April, tells Sky Sports News, he hopes it is a fight that eventually happens.
"I don't think Tyson can lace his own boots right now. When Tyson is fit, when he's ready, we'll be ready," said Joshua with a joking dig at his potential future opponent.
"We're patient. I wish him a speedy recovery with all the stuff that he's got going on outside the ring.
"It's a fight that people want to see. He's one of my boxing rivals and I need this competition throughout my career. I can't wait for him to get back. We'll see if I can lace his boots when we come to blows."
Taking to social media on Tuesday, Fury had suggested that a fight with Joshua is the one boxing fans are waiting for.
He said: "People do want to see the fight between you and me, AJ. The world wants to see it because I'm still the lineal heavyweight champion and everybody knows that.
"I walked away from boxing because I wasn't interested. There were no challenges there. I played with the best man there was."
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