Mike Tyson has hailed Tyson Fury as boxing’s Messiah, and said Anthony Joshua was currently too predictable to beat his fellow Briton.

The 54-year-old returns to the ring himself this weekend in eight, two-minute rounds against Roy Jones Jr for his first competitive fight for 15 years.

But the former dominant force of the heavyweight division tipped Fury to become the next undisputed heavyweight champion ahead of two potential fights with Joshua in 2021.

“It’s very interesting about Joshua,” he told the No Passion No Point podcast. “He’s a masterful puncher but you can see his punches coming. That’s just a recipe for a disaster when fighting Tyson Fury telegraphing your punches to a guy who’s 6ft 7ins.

“Tyson Fury is a fan fighter. The fans are in love with him. In England, Anthony Joshua is a big thing but Tyson Fury has got the people now. They follow him like he’s the Messiah.”

With Fury and Joshua, as well as Deontay Wilder and rising names such as Britain’s Daniel Dubois, who fights Joe Joyce, this weekend, Tyson said heavyweight boxing was entering a golden era in 2021.

 “I think there’s a lot of great heavyweights in the division,” said Tyson. “Anyone that says it’s a bad division, they’re just jealous. I want to see these guys fight each other over and over again. They’re great fighters.” 

Tyson’s own no knock-out exhibition fight against Jones has been criticised for being given the go ahead to two 50-plus fighters stepping back into the ring. 

But Tyson said he was relishing the opportunity to box again. “I feel really good,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it. This is going to be beautiful. I’m going to have a ball with this legends thing.” 

As for his fight prospects, he added: “I think Roy can handle getting slapped around a little bit. It’ll be really hot in the kitchen. Tune in, it’s going to be an awesome night.”