He was an immense champion who bestrode the heavyweight scene like a colossus for many years, and when he speaks, people tend to listen.

Wladimir Klitschko, one of the former greats of heavyweight boxing, has had his say when speaking to the Sunday Times about the relative merits of current British behemoths Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

The Ukrainian is speaking from a position of authority and bitter experience regarding the pair as his last two bouts ended in disappointing defeats to both fighters.

The 42-year-old, known as Dr Steelhammer during a career which saw him successfully defend his belts an astonishing 23 times, is now safely retired and displaying his intellectual prowess in his position of adjunct professor at St Gallen University.

He retains a strong interest in the sport, however, and is intrigued by the new crop of superstars battling for supremacy in the heavyweight game.

The unbeaten Tyson Fury shocked Klitschko in 2015 with a unanimous points decision before the Mancunian's career spiralled out of control due to drug and depression issues that saw him out of the ring until his recent reemergence and announcement of his long awaited comeback on June 9. 

Joshua, the current holder of four world title belts, has assumed the mantle of dominance that Klitschko had and he sent the Ukrainian into retirement after an epic bout in London last year, which saw both men hit the canvas before the Briton finally prevailed in the 11th round.

Dr Steelhammer was in no doubt which of the two men impressed him more.

"Hands down Joshua," Klitschko told the Sunday Times when asked who is the better fighter.

"He is getting to be the complete fighter. Technically, size-wise, weight-wise, power-wise. And he is a good learner. The other guy (Fury), like a fart in the wind it is there and it is gone.

"In the history of boxing there are a lot of examples of this kind of guy. They can be successful for a time but are not disciplined enough to continue to be successful.

"I wish Tyson well but I think there is a lack of discipline there, and discipline is more important than motivation.

"Motivation comes and goes, discipline remains. I am not Nostradamus, I can't predict the future, but drawing from my experience I would say it is going to be very difficult for Tyson because there's a lack of discipline."

Fury has confidently declared this week that he would easily dispatch Joshua, a boast that must have raised a smirk from Dr Steelhammer.