Former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko indicated in a recent interview that he would prefer Tyson Fury to win the upcoming rematch with WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.

Fury will challenge Wilder on February 22 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Back in November of 2015 in Germany, Fury shocked the entire sport when he won a twelve round decision to hand Klitschko his first defeat in over a decade.

There were talks of a rematch with Fury, but that went away when Fury walked away from the sport for over two years while fighting depression and substance abuse issues.

Klitschko retired from the sport in 2017, after suffering a TKO defeat at the hands of Anthony Joshua.

Klitschko turns 44-years-old next month and does not appear to be any closer to a potential comeback. He believes that a win by Fury would open new doors in the heavyweight division.

“Either Wilder is going to knock out Fury or Fury is going to win on points. Personally, I respect Wilder a lot - he was in my training camp, we spent rounds in the ring. He’s a great guy and a fantastic boxer. As many knockouts as he has, you’ve probably no one else, in current times, any heavyweights, including me," Klitschko explained to The National.

“I think, or I wish, that actually Fury, believe it or not, might make it. Maybe not, but I wish he’s going to. And then there’s supposed to be a rematch between Fury and me. Am I announcing now a comeback? No I’m not. Mark my words, I’m not announcing a rematch.

“But it could possibly be a good mix when, all of a sudden, Fury is going to win and a lot of different doors are going to open and excitement and things like that. But as I said, Wilder is going to win by knockout or Fury could win on points.”