Wladimir Klitschko offers advice to his former rival on how to stay at the top of the heavyweight division.

Not long ago it was Wladimir Klitschko who was the king of the heavyweight ring.

Until Tyson Fury came along in November 2015 to end what was previously one of the longest reigns in heavyweight championship history.

Following that, he lost to Anthony Joshua earlier this year in one of the fights in 2017 and decided to hang up the gloves rather than fight Joshua in a rematch.

Klitschko retires with a glittering legacy in the sport however, a man who carried himself with dignity and class and acted as perhaps one of the best role models in heavyweight history.

Never one to engage in trash talk and his haters, speaking to the IB Times, Klitschko advised Joshua how to deal with this side of boxing:

“Everybody is barking at you. I have been in that position, there are a lot of challenges. There are a lot of dogs barking but you just do your thing and keep on going.”

For the first time in a long time, earlier this morning Anthony Joshua bit back at some of his heavyweight rivals on Twitter.

Some have suggested that he might be rattled for the first time in a while. Others think it is simply Joshua having a bit of fun and being more himself.

Whatever the case might be, Klitschko’s advice seems logical and rational, on top of the fact it’s coming from a guy who pretty much did it all in heavyweight boxing.

Here’s a look back at a memorable fight between the two earlier this year: