21 SALUTE AJ: I’m the best heavyweight.. just name a fighter who has a better record than me after this many fights

than me after 21 fights,” said a defiant Joshua, speaking yesterday at his Sheffield training base at the English Institute of Sport.

“I ain’t got to show anyone anything. History will tell you. History is all that matters. I will prove myself. Ever since the amateurs, non-stop, I have been on top of my game.

“Look how quickly I have done it as well. If I’m not getting respect for it now then I can’t do it for anyone else except for myself. I’ve proved myself time and again.”

Social media has given everyone a voice and Joshua knows he will never please all of the people all of the time.

The 28-year-old claims the critics forget how far he has come in his short five-year pro career and compares his rapid progress to the slower rise of Klitschko, who he beat at Wembley in April 2017.

“No one can knock the route we’ve taken,” he said. “I have proved myself at the top level. I was watching Klitschko the other day and he had time to learn but I’ve been in at the deep end time and again.

“If people aren’t satisfied with it now, they never will be. Look at Floyd Mayweather, they’re never happy with him and he’s one of the greatest of all time.”

WBC champ Wilder will fight Fury after failing to agree a deal with Joshua and the 2012 Olympic champ challenged the American to face him after Povetkin on his next Wembley date on April 13.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has sent Wilder’s team a fight contract and Joshua said: “Wembley has been booked. We have signed for April 13 and it’s quite straightforward.

“There is a power struggle in the heavyweight division because worldwide people are quite p **** d that Britain has this much respect in heavyweight boxing.

“UK boxing is booming and Americans are desperate to get all the belts over there and they are negotiating hard.

“But the venue and date are set. After Wilder’s fight with Fury, hopefully we will get it on.”