Deontay Wilder makes unlikely comparison between Anthony Joshua and Muhammad Ali

Eventually, though, the 6ft 6in Londoner was stunned at Madison Square Garden by 19st underdog Ruiz in June.

Instead, however, Wilder wants Joshua to recall the inspirational journey of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time Ali.

He said, as per The Sun: "A lot of people say 'If he loses the second time he's done' - no he's not!

"He's not done, that's up to him, how many people have come back and reigned?

"So, it's not over when you lose. You just have to start from the beginning.”

Despite these words of encouragement, Wilder couldn’t help but give AJ a knock too. The 34-year-old has claimed that he still feels as though Joshua will be left with his hand and knees laid on the canvas.

“In my honest opinion it doesn't matter who wins, may the best man win, but if I had to pick a winner, I would prefer Ruiz to win.

"Not only will negotiations be easier, Joshua played around with us for four months and we tried to tell people about Eddie Hearn moving the goalposts.

"Ruiz will be a bigger fight than Joshua. I say that as I feel he'll beat him again and once he does it a second time, yeah, he's way bigger.

"He has the Mexicans behind him and the Hispanics, they love boxing, they love it, and he's American too, he's got a huge population behind him.

"But I don't have time to waste in this sport, it's a young man's game so I'm trying to get the biggest fights.”

Wilder has a rematch of his own to prepare for; he faces Luis Ortiz later this week.