Former unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury showed he still has some way to go before the prospect of a mouthwatering showdown with Anthony Joshua becomes a reality after revealing his bloated torso on social media.

Fury has repeatedly stated his desire to regain his boxing licence and get back to fighting weight, and is craving an all-British world heavyweight title bout against current IBF, IBO, WBA world champion Joshua next year.

The pair have traded barbs over social media, with the usually phlegmatic Joshua labelling Fury “fat” earlier this month and urging him to “get fit” as part of a tirade on his rivals in boxing’s blue riband division.

Fury has made no secret of his weight struggles since last fighting in November 2015, but in recent days he has posted a number of videos on his Instagram account showing him training in a boxing ring.

He has most recently been working with former two-weight world champion turned trainer Ricky Hatton, who also had weight issues for most of his fighting career.

Fury and Hatton uploaded onto Instagram and Twitter respectively the same photo of them posing in a gym with their tops off – and the image is not a flattering one for the former world heavyweight champion.

Fury wrote alongside the image: “Looking well here Rick, both in great shape, Loving the work.”

Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) last fought in November 2015, when he won a stunning unanimous decision to capture the IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO world titles from Wladimir Klitschko in Germany.

After that contest, Fury had a mental breakdown, and was dealing issue with substance abuse, which forced him to vacate his titles and sit on the shelf. He must take the necessary steps to reclaim his boxing license from the British Boxing Board of Control.

Before he can reclaim his boxing license, Fury will have to settle his dispute with UK-Anti Doping, who claim the boxer tested positive for a banned substance in early 2015.