Wladimir Klitschko: Anthony Joshua the most promising boxer I have seen in 25 years

World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has not ruled out a meeting with Anthony Joshua, claiming the Briton is the most promising boxer he has seen in 25 years. Joshua, 25, has powered his way through 13 fights since turning professional 2013, hammering each of his opponents inside three rounds or less.

In May, the Olympic champion cruised to a stoppage victory over American veteran Kevin Johnson, who had previously gone the distance in all of his 36 career fights, which included meetings with Vitali Klitschko and Tyson Fury. Having trained with Joshua at his training camp in 2014, Wladimir Klitschko believes the Londoner is the full package that can go on to reach the top of the sport.

"I have faced a lot of athletes and opponents in the last 25 years and there is one person who has the potential to become a really big star in boxing," unified world champion Klitschko told the BBC. "Not only inside the ring but that person, and I am talking about Anthony Joshua, has qualities that not many guys had.

"Either they had good skills but not the strength, or they had strength but not the skills. Or they were good inside the ring but not outside because their life outside messed them up and that reflected on their sporting career. I think Anthony has all the tools to become the great champion inside and outside the ring."

Klitschko, who holds a career record of 64-3, takes on Fury on 24 October but the Ukrainian has suggested there still might be time left in his career afterwards for a meeting with Joshua. "I think he needs to improve and move forward but eventually it can happen if I stay where I am today," he concluded.

Joshua, meanwhile, takes on Scotland's Gary Cornish on 12 September with a bout with Dillian Whyte, who holds an amateur victory over the Olympic gold medallist, likely to follow.