Joseph Parker has accused heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua of not showing him enough respect in the wake of their title fight earlier in the year.
Parker lost his WBO heavyweight belt in a valiant effort against Joshua in March (April NZ time), suffering defeat via a unanimous points decision in Cardiff.
While Parker didn't walk away the winner, he was the first man to take Joshua the full 12 rounds in all of his 21 fights.
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The 26-year-old blames himself for the loss, citing a lack of aggression, although he felt that Joshua should have given him more credit after being taken the distance for the first time.
Asked if Joshua had been respectful, Parker told Sky Sports: "Not really. He said if he could turn back time, he will knock me out, but I know he tried to knock me out and he couldn't, so he's making excuses.
"He's a nice person and humble, but making excuses is something else.
"He's got power, but I've been hit a lot harder from other people. Three, four times [I've watched it back]. I've seen it a few, and got some advice."
The New Zealander's next outing is on July 29 against Dillian Whyte, another former opponent of Joshua at London's 02 Arena. There is plenty on the line, as the winner gives themselves a great chance to face Joshua again in the future.
When Whyte was asked about what he thought of Parker's performance against Joshua, he said the Aucklander fought like a coward in the ring.
"His performance was cautious, but it was also cowardly as well," Whyte said. "I understand it's a big fight, and he needs to be cautious, but… you're in the home fighter's country, where the champion is a golden boy.
"Six or seven rounds in, you know you'll be down on the scorecards, there comes a time when you've got to go after it, and I just feel he was too much of a coward to make the decisions he needed to make.
"He wasn't hurt at any point during the fight, he didn't get stung or anything, he didn't want to make the decision to go after him, and now he regrets it. It is a coward's mindset."
Parker compared his unanimous-decision loss to Whyte's seventh-round TKO defeat and declared himself the better fighter.
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