When Tyson Petrified Michael Spinks

Anthony Joshua would rather fight Ali than Mike Tyson as the Greatest would ‘have made me look better’.

Watford’s unified heavyweight champion of the world would not fancy facing the Baddest Man on the Planet.

Anthony Joshua has revealed his dream opponent would be Muhammad Ali ahead of Mike Tyson as The Greatest would make him look better.

Watford’s unified heavyweight champion of the world has had to settle for a June 1 US debut against Jarrell Miller instead of his ideal undisputed bout with Deontay Wilder.

And, when asked who he would face between the Baddest Man on the Planet and the arguably the biggest sporting icon ever, AJ told DAZN: “I would prefer to fight Ali rather than Tyson because I am a boxer fighter and our styles would gel.

“There was not much you could do with Tyson, he would not have made me look good because his style was so phenomenal.

“Ali was more of a boxer and he would have made me look better because our styles would have gelled.”

The 29-year-old dad of one fights at the boxing Mecca of Madison Square Garden against trash-talking 22st Brooklyn local Miller in two months’ time.

The American has repeatedly labelled Joshua a doping cheat, an unproven slur he has always denied, and Josh has explained how hard it has been to keep his cool.

He said: “I am not the home fighter and everyone knows the beef with me and Miller.

“I expect him to bring one of his Brooklyn goons or family and friends to support him so there will be a whole batch for him and I will need tunnel vision.

“I am at my best when I am in control. I am still a threat but now I think before I flip. I am older and wiser and I have to take care of myself.

“There are so many people in jail or in sticky situations because they cannot control their emotions with road rage or GBH and if I hit Miller then the fight is off.”

“I am still a threat but now I think before I flip.”

The London 2012 Olympics winner had Wembley booked for April 13 but, after failing to secure fights with Wilder, Tyson Fury and Dillian Whyte, he was forced abroad for the underwhelming opponent.

Instead, Wilder faces unfancied mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale on May 18 and Fury travels to Las Vegas to face unknown Tom Schwarz on June 15.

And frustrated Joshua knows he and the American WBC champion cannot keep shortchanging fans.

He said: “People make decisions to suit themselves, in terms of the negotiations they didn’t align at the time and I realise that we have both said a lot to blame each other.

“We need to put that tit-for-tat aside, realise where we both went wrong in negotiations and get it right.

“It’s coming to a stage where only the fans are missing out.

“My resume says I beat Big Baby Miller but you never know in heavyweight boxing, I have to be serious about this guy because he isn’t the end of the rainbow, he is another stepping stone.

“But how many steps do I have to do, while I am the champion, to get my hands on these guys?

“It’s only the fans that are missing out and it’s only more risks I am taking to get to these mega fights and I don’t want to keep taking too many risks.”