Hearn: If Joshua Beats Klitschko, He's The Biggest Star in Boxing

Matchroom Sports CEO Eddie Hearn believes Anthony Joshua can rule the boxing world if he can beat Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday before a crowd of 90,000 fans.

The 27-year-old Joshua will be the home favourite as he takes on veteran Klitschko in their blockbuster heavyweight bout for the IBF, WBA, IBO at a sold out Wembley Stadium in London.

The contest will be televised by both Showtime and HBO in the United States - a network scenario that only happened two other in the United States - with Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao and Mike Tyson vs. Lennox Lewis.

If Joshua defeats the 41-year-old Ukrainian, Hearn feels the British fighter will be the most marketable figure in the sport.

Hearn told Sky Sports: "He becomes the biggest star in British sport and the biggest star in world boxing. It's early in his career, it's his 19th fight, so masses of pressure.

"We talk about this 10-year plan, we're kind of having a legacy fight within the first couple of years. It's here, the timing is perfect. He could sell out any arena, against anyone, but he wants to be remembered for the big fights.

"This opportunity won't be there forever. You fight Klitschko now, or it never happens. He wants to be in those big fights, he wants to take on the very best."

Klitschko has been out of the ring since November 2015, when he lost a shocking twelve round unanimous decision to Tyson Fury.

If Klitschko loses, he makes it clear that he doesn't have any plan to retire from the sport.

He insisted: “I’ve never said this was going to be my last fight. Over the last decade, I have gone from fight to fight. Hopefully I have a couple of years left in me. But you have to prepare for your next fight like it is your last fight.

“Health and motivation are very important. If one of those things is missing then it doesn’t make sense to continue. I’m not thinking, ‘I’m going to get knocked out and what will I do then?’ I have the will and desire to make this my fight and my night.”