Anthony Joshua urged to crack America to join the boxing greats

The WBA, IBF and WBO​ heavyweight champion has emerged as perhaps the biggest draw in the sport but still has work to do

Sugar Ray Leonard has told Anthony Joshua he must crack America if he ever wants to join him in the pantheon of boxing greats.

The 62-year-old is considered as one of the very best in the sport's storied history as a result of two glittering decades as a professional, which gleaned world titles in five different weight classes.

So he is well placed to assess the impact that WBA, IBF and WBO​ heavyweight champion Joshua is having on the boxing sphere since emerging as perhaps the biggest draw in the sport.

Leonard has been ringside for Joshua's last two fights, against Joseph Parker in Cardiff and Alexander Povetkin at Wembley. The turnout for those two fights helped take his number of ticket sales in the last 18 months past the 300,000 mark.

Since clinching gold at the London 2012 Olympics, Joshua has won all 22 of his professional contests with 21 inside the distance, picking up British, Commonwealth and three world titles along the way.

As such, Leonard has been impressed by the 'mayhem' he has witnessed on this side of the Atlantic but the all-time-great from North Carolina believes AJ's greatness depends on him recreating his success across the pond.

“It all boils down to what Anthony Joshua wants and what he believes in,” said Leonard. “You have to ask him the question: what do you want to be? How do you want people to remember you?

“Do you want to just be remembered here or global? I'm sure it's global. In America they know the name Anthony Joshua but they have not all seen him. There are a lot of boxing fans, millions of boxing fans, but they have not all seen what he is about yet.

“But that being said, he is going down the right road. America will be the next key.

Joshua defended his titles against Povetkin last month (Getty Images)

“I was in Cardiff for the Parker fight so I'd had a taste of the Joshua mayhem over here before Wembley. They absolutely love him, they support him and I truly believe he feeds off that. He is getting better and better.

“We have seen big support in the past but this is just spectacular. This is huge. But then we know why: he's visceral, he's smart, he's articulate, he's giving, he's a nice guy and he's a good champion.

“He is doing what he is doing over here but to recreate it in America... that is the key. That is indeed the key and the purpose.”

Leonard is fondly remembered for his place among the so-called Four Kings, the iconic quartet made up of him, Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler​ and Roberto Duran.

Leonard is one of boxing's most famous figures (Getty Images)

The awesome foursome combined in a nine-fight series which started in 1980, ended in 1989 and has been etched in boxing folklore ever since.

Leonard was the only 'King' to beat the other three and completed the set in 1987 when he ended a three-year retirement to beat the fearsome and 'Marvelous' Hagler to claim the WBC middleweight title.

And Leonard says Joshua should glance back into boxing history and use that fight as encouragement to ensure a showdown with Deontay Wilder does not fall by the wayside.

He said: “Look, if he never faces Wilder it wouldn't be a total black mark but... it's like me. The reason I came back was because I wanted to fight the best in Marvellous Marvin Hagler.

Wilder faces Fury in December (AFP/Getty)

“For me, being a fighter, I was just driven by that desire to fight the best. Hagler was the last one I wanted to go up against so I made sure it happened.

“It's kind of a stamp of approval, people remember how you fared against the power. Did you take it? Wilder is a serious puncher and that would be a fight that fans would love to see.”

First Wilder must get past arguably the toughest test of his career when he defends his WBC belt against undefeated lineal champion Tyson Fury on December 1 in Los Angeles.

Victory for the American will only increase the clamour for Wilder and Joshua to meet in the first ever four-belt heavyweight unification in history.

So who would win?

Joshua and Wilder appear to be on a collision course (Getty)

“I'm biased so I'd have to pick Wilder to win,” Leonard said with a wry smile. “But being a professional, I would look at AJ. Fundamentally he's sound. But this is what I'm trying to say – these are the ingredients that make super fights. We just don't know who wins.

"1,000 people said Sugar Ray would win, then 1,000 people said Hagler was going to win. When you have that flip-flopping around, that's when you know the fight just has to happen.

“That's why they are going to get together. It's a fight made in heaven. It's such an intriguing, exciting fight between two guys, heavyweights, who want to prove who's the best.

“It would be up there with all the heavyweight fights in history. The numbers would be incredible. Not just financially but the turnout and anticipation of that match-up would be incredible. I truly hope it happens.”

Leonard maintains a close link with the sport as a broadcaster and his new role with DAZN in America, who showed Joshua's victory over Povetkin​ live, means he has kept a close eye on the rise and rise of Britain's golden boy.

Leonard remains close to the sport in his role as a broadcaster (Getty Images)

“Of course being ringside for big nights like that make you miss it,” Leonard said of Joshua's latest Wembley showpiece. “But I guess, as I hit 60, it has just about become apparent that I could never do that again.

“I have incredible, fond memories of my career and I see and feel them so vividly. I can see the picture clearly. I remember the days and moments, down to a tee, when I was called upon to be great.

“But when you're living it, when you're in that moment, you don't realise how big it is. You don't, you just can't. It's so hard to maintain perspective. You must have good people around you, you must come from a good family and have good friends with no ulterior motives.

"The most important thing when it comes to trying to cross over from something more than just a sportsman, into a major star I would say is humility. That means reciprocating, giving back.

“It is a journey and journeys are never easy but I would do it again if I had a chance. But I would not do anything differently, I wouldn't change a thing. I became the person I am today as a result of my journey and hopefully I've never hurt anyone, so I wouldn't do it any other way.”