Former world heavyweight champion David Haye insists that IBF world champion Anthony Joshua will beat Wladimir Klitschko if they face each other later this year.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has continued to hint at a possible fight against the Ukrainian, after his bout with Tyson Fury fell through for the second time.

Klitschko lost his world titles to Fury last November, before the Manchester fighter was stripped of the IBF crown after agreeing a rematch.

Joshua eventually won the title off Charles Martin and the pair could now meet in a blockbuster clash in December.

Haye lost to Klitschko in Germany in 2011 but the Brit believes his fellow countrymen will see his hand raised if the fight is secured.

“Joshua wins that fight very easily, I really believe that is the case,” he told Sky Sports News HQ. “I’ve seen how Klitschko has been declining in recent years.

In his last fight against Fury, he looked the worst I’ve ever seen him and averaged around twelve punches a round.

“All Joshua needs is a fair referee, because if they have one then Klitschko will be disqualified for holding.

The Ukrainian will be desperate to get close to AJ, so that Joshua can’t let his hands go. Referees in the past have let him get away with it.”

Haye is also set to return on December 10 against an unnamed opponent and he is confident of taking on Joshua next summer.

He added: “Facing the likes of Joshua, a young and hungry champion, is the reason why I’m in boxing.

“A unification fight with Joshua at Wembley in the summer would be massive and it doesn’t get much better than that.”