We all know that the stakes for Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko are as high as the sky right now.

Many have voiced their opinions, with Wladimir's brother Vitali claiming that Joshua could send Wladimir into retirement should the Ukrainian lose, and Jonathon Banks warning Joshua not to underestimate the 41-year-old's experience.

Now, Tony Bellew has had his say on the showdown.

Offering some knowledgeable insight when talking to metro.co.uk, Bomber underlined the seriousness of the Brit's first real title defence.

"Anthony Joshua needs to win against Wladimir Klitschko. If he doesn’t, it’s a hard, long road back." said the 34-year-old from Liverpool.

"There is a rematch clause, but one fight can change the path of an entire career. If Joshua loses to Klitschko, his path is changed forever."

The man knows what he's talking about given his recent triumph over David Haye in March, and used this to comment further on the speculations leading up to the fight. He believed that ring rust, however, would not be an issue for someone like Klitschko.

"Ring rust only comes into play when the fighter doesn’t prepare properly. When I was fighting David Haye, I knew his timing would be out. He doesn’t spar enough rounds or work with the right opponents.

"Someone like Klitschko will cover every single base."

This style of preparation, coupled with the vast amounts of experience Klitschko has under his belt, echoes Jonathon Banks' words regarding George Foreman's title comeback at 45. 

While Joshua may have knocked out whoever has gotten into the ring with him since he turned pro, the furthest round he's ever gone to in his professional career is the seventh round - against Dominic Breazeale. And Breazeale was only the second boxer to take Joshua past three rounds.

Bearing this in mind, Bellew laid out his prediction if the fight were to go the distance.

"Joshua in the first four rounds and then past then, Klitschko all the way. Joshua has to knock Klitschko out, he cannot beat him on points."

This seems very plausible for anyone who has followed Joshua's career, but Bomber made it pretty clear that he was also rooting for his fellow countryman.

"I’m hoping Joshua pulls it off, I’m rooting for him."