Anthony Joshua backs Cristiano Ronaldo to beat Lionel Messi in a FIGHT, as he reveals he’d love to see rivals square-up in Misfits boxing bout

Anthony Joshua would like to see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo go head-to-head in a Misfits boxing match. Although he says it is a close match, he is backing the Portuguese star to emerge victorious.

The British heavyweight boxer, 33, is currently enjoying some time off after beating Robert Helenius via seventh-round KO at the 02 Arena in London last month.

And the huge football fan has said he would like to see two icons of the team sport go head-to-head to continue their personal rivalry in the battle arena.

In an interview on YouTube, Joshua was asked to name two non-boxers he would like to see fight, based on personalities alone, and responded with ‘Ronaldo versus Messi’, taking one of the fiercest rivalries in modern football to a new battlefield.

When asked who will win, Joshua said ‘Ronaldo’, before adding: ‘I love Messi and Ronaldo. However, Messi does have that vision. I imagine he’s bobbing and weaving, but yeah, it would be tough. They’re both as good as each other.’

Joshua declined to name a non-boxer he would like to face in the ring in a crossover fight, saying: “I’m not feuding with anyone.”

When Joshua was confronted with the idea of ​​facing the Portuguese icon, he said: ‘No, I respect Ronaldo.’

The suggestion of a hypothetical fight between two other football rivals was also mooted: Romelu Lukaku versus Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

In response, Joshua said, “Yeah, they don’t like each other, right? That would honestly be a bad boy fight too.”

Lukaku made his name at Serie A side Inter Milan and is on loan from Chelsea to Roma this season, while Ibrahimovic retired from football at the end of last season after a long career that ended with AC Milan.

Joshua, a two-time world champion, is expected to face Deontay Wilder in a mega-money fight in Saudi Arabia before the end of 2023.