The heavyweight division is alive and kicking with Anthony Joshua spearheading the charge.

Tyson Fury looks set to come back later this year if his hearing with UKAD is successful, whilst Hughie Fury is on the fringes of world title glory.

One man who has had the opportunity to spar with such titans is Lancastrian Adam Machaj. He reveals the fighters stood out from the pack.

“The toughest one I fought in terms of ability was Tyson, he’d beat most of the names out of shape now, getting off the settee. He’s too skilful,” the 29-year-old exclusively told World Boxing News.

“He runs you around and makes you angry. In terms of a physical athlete it has to be Klitschko and Joshua, they’re the biggest athletes.

“David Price was probably the biggest puncher as every punch he landed hurt, whilst Chisora was good as he was like a little Tasmanian devil, they’re all good in their own rights.”

With talk of Joshua and Fury heating up for a summer showdown in 2018, Michaj has predicted the outcome.

“I don’t think Fury would stop him but I think he’d outpoint him. His foot movement, skills, deceptive, he switches his arms, his style changes every two seconds.

“The only way to beat him is to knock him to the deck, even Tyson said that but apart from that you’re going to struggle.”

The ‘Heat Seeker’ has risen in confidence since sharing the ring with the heavy hitters and has vowed to deliver performances no one has witnessed him do before.

“I’ve sparred all of them, I was in the Klitschko camp for three weeks. I’ve sparred Tyson and Hughie a lot of times, David Price I’ve done a lot of rounds with, I’ve trained with them all.

“My confidence is good I don’t get nervous and have held my own with them all, it’s just landing that punch, nobody has seen what I can do yet. Once I land square, they won’t get up off the floor,” he added.

Joe Hewlett is lead writer for World Boxing News. Follow Joe on Twitter @Hewlett95