Eric Molina believes that Anthony Joshua has started a dominant heavyweight era and predicts that his fight with Wladimir Klitschko in April will be a metaphorical passing of the torch between the two boxing giants.

Molina, who fought Joshua in December of last year, went on to say that he is backing Joshua to beat the Ukrainian in just under a month’s time.

IBF champion Joshua successfully defended his title against Molina with a knockout victory in the third round to set up this mammoth tie with Klitschko, a man who has ruled the roost of heavyweight boxing for over a decade.

In taking on Klitschko, 27 year-old Joshua is putting his 18-fight unbeaten record on the line, and despite his lack of experience compared with the 41 year-old Ukrainian, Molina has suggested that a new dawn for heavyweight boxing may be on the horizon.

“He (Klitschko) is a great champion and I personally do not see too many heavyweights beating him, he's very strong," Molina said, per Sky Sports.

"One thing that Joshua has shown is, he's getting bigger, better, faster, stronger, every fight.

"I don't want to disrespect Klitschko, but the torch is going to be passed that night. If it hasn't been already, I think it's going to officially get passed."

Joshua's next opponent after Klitschko

Molina fought and lost to Deontay Wilder back in 2015 and said that after Joshua beats Klitschko, Wilder should be his next opponent, insisting that the WBC champion may be the only heavyweight capable of stopping the young Brit.

"If he goes through Klitschko, which I believe that he can, there is only one fight left for him after that and that is the fight that everybody knows - the Wilder-Joshua fight,” said Molina.

"After that fight, I don't really see much else out there for him, maybe Tyson Fury, but yes definitely he is the present and the future."

Big night

On the subject of Fury, the Manchester-born ‘Gypsy King’ was the last man to fight Joshua’s opponent Klitschko, and famously beat him via unanimous decision back in November 2015.

Having already beaten David Haye back in 2011, Klitschko’s record against British boxers currently stands at one victory and one loss.

Come April 29, we’ll find out if Joshua can indeed take the torch from Klitschko as Molina predicts. If he manages to pick up the win, ‘AJ’ will walk away with the IBF, WBA and IBO titles, and will truly be seen as the new face of heavyweight boxing.

Is Anthony Joshua going to beat Klitschko? Let us know in the comments section below!