Tony Bellew was shocked when he received word that David Haye was gunning for a 2018 showdown with IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.

Haye, 36 years old, is planning to return to the ring in December, but he's yet to name his comeback opponent.

He's been out of the ring since a March TKO defeat at the hands of Bellew, which saw Haye suffer a severe Achilles injury that required surgery in the aftermath of the eleven round stoppage.

Haye believes that he possesses the necessary tools to crack Joshua undefeated 19-0 record.

"AJ' is not on my radar right now, but once I prove myself in December and am firing on all cylinders, I want the Joshua fight. If I get in the ring with him, I will find a way to beat that giant, he is 10 years younger, three inches taller and three stone bigger and I love and relish that kind of challenge," Haye told Sky Sports.

But Bellew thinks Haye has lost his mind.

“I’ve seen an article this week saying he’s talking about Anthony Joshua. He must be on the drugs," Bellew said in an exclusive with the Express. “This guy Joshua is a colossal monster and David has come out saying “me and him could be the biggest fight ever. He’s insane. He really is.”

He also believes the London fighter is using every opportunity to take away the spotlight from his own stable of fighters, who are contracted under Haye's promotional company.

“David Haye has been to every single event he can get his arse to - the GQ Awards, speaking to journalists, telling everybody he’s got a 'huge announcement' that’s got nothing to do with him...He’s taking all the limelight from his own fighters because he will do absolutely anything to stay in the media spotlight. I would put nothing past him," Bellew said.