David Haye believes he would have beaten Anthony Joshua in his ‘heyday’ as he gears up for Dereck Chisora’s fight with Dillian Whyte.After speaking about all the top Heavyweights on Sky Sports, Haye was asked if a prime self would be able to defeat the current WBA, IBF and WBO champion Anthony Joshua.He told Sky Sports; “I think a peak David Haye would beat pretty much anybody.“I would have done way better than anyone else who’s stepped in the ring with [Joshua].“Nobody else has been able to make him miss and make him pay. I think the only person that had that ability was [Alexander] Povetkin, but when he fought him Povetkin was past his prime.”However, the 38-year-old admitted he would not have stood a chance against former unified champion Lennox Lewis.

He continued: “He beat every man he ever faced and he beat a young lion like Vitali Klitschko, ripped his face to shreds.

"He’s the only person I’ve ever looked at and thought: 'I dunno what I’d do there'.

"I’d have no chance.”

Haye announced his retirement earlier this year after suffering a second consecutive defeat to Tony Bellew in May.

His attention is currently solely focused on helping former foe Dereck Chisora prepare for his rematch against Dillian Whyte, with a potential fight against Joshua the reward for the victor.

Nevertheless, Joshua's preferred opponent remains WBC champion Deontay Wilder after he showed signs of weakness against Tyson Fury this month and would give him the opportunity to become the undisputed champ.

A repeat of the breakdown in negotiations which prevented that fight being made this year, though, will open the door for either Whyte or Chisora to step in, providing they are successful on Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London.