Anthony Joshua has been criticised on social media for “sexist” comments made about his niece in an interview that has resurfaced online.

In the GQ piece from March 2017, the champion boxer said he was stricter with his niece than his son because she had to learn "family morals" and would one day grow up to "be someone's wife".

“I don’t think I’m that strict with Joseph, I don’t know why. But with my niece I’m strict,” he said.

“He’s going to be a man’s man, he’ll want to spread his wings be a Jack-the-lad, build his character.

“But with my niece, there is none of that Jack-the-lad nonsense for her!

“My view is you have to be a good woman, respectful, one day you will be someone’s wife, you have to learn family morals … what it is to be a good woman.”

Social media users were quick to express their disapproval. “How Anthony Joshua can look at his niece, not as a child but as someone who is going to be a ‘wife’ is really bemusing,” one person wrote.

“Anthony Joshua letting us know his son is allowed to ‘build character’ whilst his niece must prepare to ‘be a wife’,” another tweeted.

One user described Joshua’s words as “sexist and misogynistic”, displaying clear signs of “toxic masculinity”.

Other users defended the heavyweight, who holds the IBF, WBA (Super) and IBO titles, against personal criticism.

“The dialogue that’s occurring shouldn’t be about Anthony Joshua as a person. Nobody knows him,” one remarked.

“The dialogue should be about where this thinking stems from in the first place and the consequences of this thinking on boys and girls in general."