Wladimir Klitschko: Anthony Joshua can unify the heavyweight division

Wladimir Klitschko has tipped Anthony Joshua to unify the heavyweight division. The now-retired Ukrainian believes the British star could dominate boxing for the next decade.

Klitschko, who was beaten by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in April, says that if Joshua does go on to win all the heavyweight belts it would put a better “shine” on his defeat.

Speaking to The Sun, Klitschko said: “I’d say the more Joshua shines, the better I shine. If I lost, I want to make sure I lost to the better man.

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“I wish, from the bottom of my heart, he continues to carry this torch for a long time and is very successful just like I was.

“I have passed the torch to the younger lion. Joshua is capable of unifying the division, absolutely.”

For Joshua to do this he will have to beat WBO champion Joseph Parker and WBC holder Deontay Wilder. He will also potentially face British rival Tyson Fury.

While praising Joshua for an “incredible fight” at Wembley, Klitschko was not as complimentary about Fury, who he also lost to in 2015.

“Listen, I don’t want to bring any attention to him – it doesn’t make sense,” Klitschko told The Sun. “Fury was announcing he would fight a rematch. Then he was using drugs, cocaine or steroids.”

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Fury has declared that he’s “the king” of heavyweight boxing.

The 29-year-old is free to return to the ring after this week accepting a backdated two-year ban from UK Anti-Doping. He has set his sights on Joshua, Parker and Wilder.

Fury said: “Someone labelled it the four kings right now, four undefeated heavyweight fighters in myself, Anthony Joshua, Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder. But I labelled it ‘three peasants and a king’. There’s only one king of the division and that’s me.”