Former two division world champion David Haye has issued a warning to IBF, WBA, WBO, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Haye believes Joshua's upcoming opponent, Alexander Povetkin, will be the toughest opponent of the British star's entire career.
He views Povetkin as being a tougher foe than Wladimir Klitschko, who Joshua stopped in eleven rounds in April 2017.
While Klitschko was Joshua's most impressive win, the former division king was 41, at the end of his career, and retired following that loss.
Povetkin, a former champion and an Olympic gold medal winner like Joshua, has a single loss on his record - a twelve round decision at the hands of Klitschko in 2013.
"I believe Povetkin is the toughest opponent Joshua has ever had and that includes his fights with Klitschko, [Dillian] Whyte and [Joseph] Parker,’ Haye told SunSport.
The fight between Joshua and Povetkin takes place on September 22nd, at Wembley in London.
"His amateur pedigree is stronger than Joshua’s. He was Olympic, World and European Champion when representing Russia. He’s been boxing a lot longer than Joshua and he’s a few years older than him and a very, very solid campaigner."
"His [Povetkin] only loss was on points to Klitschko, and that was when Klitschko, was in his prime,’ Haye continued. ‘The Klitschko that fought Joshua, in my opinion, was not as good as the Klitschko that beat Povetkin. That’s not to take anything away from AJ’s victory, I just know from first-hand experience how years on one’s clock has such a notable impact on the fighter you face in the ring.
"Joshua is in for a real fight against a contender who is on a long string of victories and understands what it takes to win at the top level. ‘Povetkin is hungry and determined and we are going to see a barnstormer of a fight."