Would Anthony Joshua beat prime Mike Tyson?

That was the question posed to the world when boxing legend Larry Holmes came out on AJ’s side.

With 20 fights and 20 knockouts under his belt, Anthony Joshua has started to look like the real deal.

But, not according to his potential next opponent, the unbeaten American Deontay Wilder.

“He doesn’t have the confidence to square up against me, let alone Mike Tyson,” he told reporters on FightHubTV.

Wilder, who previously defeated Gerald Washington to defend his WBC belt, has ‘declared war’ on Joshua.

“If I’m so easy, who do I still have my strap around my waist.”

In typically bullish fashion, Wilder demanded to know why Joshua is letting him speak.

“Nobody wants to see this fight,” he said about his victory over Washington. 

He wants to fight Joshua. And he wants it sooner, not later.

With Eddie Hearn talking about a possible fight between the two at Wembley next year, Wilder wants to speed up the process.

“I never heard a champion say he has to get ready for somebody.”

He claimed that not only was Joshua nothing like Tyson, but he wasn’t even as good as the former British heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis.

Lennox would have responded “let’s do this,” according to Wilder, mocking Joshua, claiming he needs “three years” before he’s ready to fight.

But, Wilder isn’t the only possible fight for Joshua, with a mandatory defence due to be scheduled, alongside possible fights against Joseph Parker, Wilder, and even Tyson Fury, according to Sky Sports News.

"What you gonna do?” he demands of Joshua.

“Gonna complain. Gonna mope.”

Scroll to 13:44 in the below video to see Wilder's full response

Time will tell if Joshua genuinely fears Wilder, having been rocked by Wladimir Klitchsko and overly cautious against Carlos Takam.

The fight will most likely happen in the UK – possibly at Wembley – with Joshua being the bigger name.

Wilder will be Joshua’s toughest test yet. Takam was a late substitute and Klitschko was already past his best.

Can Joshua prove Larry Holmes right? Or like Wilder claims, does he not have enough “confidence” to even face Wilder?