Tyson Fury has cast doubt over his undisputed bout with Anthony Joshua by claiming he is drinking 12 pints a day and not eating.
The Gypsy King has not fought since stopping Deontay Wilder over a year ago but had remained in the gym ahead of the proposed clash with his fellow world champion.
But despite promoters Eddie Hearn and Bob Arum - as well as Joshua himself - insisting the £200million mega-fight will take place this summer, Fury is not convinced.
And he now claims to have stopped training and started boozing again, three years after turning his life around following a drink and drug-fuelled depression.
"I have stopped training at the moment, I am on holiday," he told iFL TV. "I am drinking anything between eight, ten, 12 pints of lager a day at the minute.
"But I am not eating so I am getting my calories through alcohol. I have trained and trained and trained with no progress so I am now a man of leisure."
Fury admits he does see himself fighting Joshua at some point, but that is not "imminent".
A 50-50 financial split was agreed last summer and last month Arum confirmed all remaining details had been ironed out.
Hearn then said all that only signatures were required before an official announcement would be made.
But no such statement has been forthcoming - and Fury does not seem surprised.
He added: "Whatever they say is very unimportant to me because, until I have a fight date and a hell-of-a-lot of money in my pocket, there is no fight.
"Will I be fighting Joshua in the next ten minutes? No. Do I think the fight will eventually happen? Yes, it has to happen. Do I think it is next or imminent? No.
"I am not going to hold my breath for it, that’s for sure.
"I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket because I have been guilty of doing that before and, when the fight doesn't happen, that is when I end up in a massive depression and feel like killing myself.
"I am not going to say ‘it is definitely happening in June or July'."
Hearn later confirmed he expects the fight to take place this summer with Saudi Arabia the leading contender to play host.
A rematch would likely be staged in Cardiff in the winter.
