Lennox Lewis has hit back at Anthony Joshua for branding him a "clown" that he does not respect.
The former world heavyweight champion questioned Joshua's preparation following his shock defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr back on June 1 at Madison Square Garden.
Lewis also tweeted that Rob McCracken may not be the right trainer for the 2012 Olympic champion to rule at the highest level of the sport.
Joshua, who will bid to win back the IBF, WBA and WBO titles that he lost when he meets Ruiz Jr in a rematch on December 7, told AJ: The Untold Truth on Sky Sports: "Lennox is a clown. I don't respect Lennox."
It was suggested that Lewis left an impressive legacy but Joshua replied: "So? So am I.
"Me and Lennox are not the same. My legacy is to sit back and enjoy the younger generation coming up, and not to be involved. Just to appreciate what it takes to get there.
"Lennox isn't like that. Me and Lennox are cut from a different cloth."
🤡 "Lennox is a clown. I don't respect Lennox."
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) August 15, 2019
😲 Strong words from Anthony Joshua! pic.twitter.com/1rRWIKVFQm
Lewis, now 53, claimed the title of 'undisputed champion' at heavyweight in 1999, when he held the division's three recognised belts - IBF, WBA and WBC.
The growing reputation of the WBO belt means current fighters seek all four major titles to claim the same 'undisputed' description but Joshua, who could not agree a fight with WBC king Deontay Wilder, said: "I'm not focusing on that anymore.
"I'd had 22 fights and was talking about being undisputed. What am I going to do after? Go and fight Otto Wallin? It was like I was coming to the end of my road already, worrying about undisputed.
"I became heavyweight champion, I unified the division twice, and now my goal is to become two-time heavyweight champion of the world. Once I achieve that, I can look at becoming undisputed champion."
Lewis has now responded, tweeting: "He's right! We are cut from a different cloth. Undisputed wasn't something I 'worried' about. It was something I went after until it was accomplished!
"Disappointed in AJ's words but I understand that this 'jealousy' narrative was only fabricated after I criticised them for Wilder negotiations. All of the sudden I'm a hater.
"Ask who benefits from such a simple-minded narrative? Not AJ. Not me."
