David Haye believes that Anthony Joshua still has the capabilities become the top heavyweight in the sport.

The retired fighter gives Joshua a good shot to come out victorious in his upcoming rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on August 20.

“He believes he has the capabilities to be the number one heavyweight on the planet,” Haye said. “I believe physically he does, all he has to do is tactically get it right, then he should be able to beat Usyk.

“Whoever the team he has around him now, give him the right instructions and he can go out and fulfil his destiny.”

Haye, the former WBA heavyweight champion, says that he believes Joshua’s aim is to become the world’s top heavyweight so another loss could be devastating.

Usyk – who took his WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF heavyweight titles in London last September – was the underdog in the first encounter but is viewed as the favorite in the upcoming rematch.

As BoxingScene.com reported earlier, Haye could actually see Joshua call it a day if he suffers a second consecutive defeat.

“If he doesn’t win, I am not sure he wants to be in a sport where he knows he is not the best,” Haye, the former WBC, WBA and WBO cruiserweight champion, said.

“At the moment, he just got out-hustled by someone I believe he knows he can beat. Now, if he brings his A game, has a great game plan and does everything right and Usyk still beats him, then I don't know if there is anything else for him to do in the sport. He is such a winner that I don't know what he does next. Does he regroup? I don’t know.”

Haye believes Joshua’s decision to change his team, switching trainers from Rob McCracken to Robert Garcia, could be positive.

“Change is good - different methods, face and voice. The performance this time around can’t be any worse.”

David Haye will be part of the commentary team on DAZN for the Derek Chisora v Kubrat Pulev fight on Saturday.

Ron Lewis is a senior writer for BoxingScene. He was Boxing Correspondent for The Times, where he worked from 2001-2019 - covering four Olympic Games and numerous world title fights across the globe. He has written about boxing for a wide variety of publications worldwide since the 1980s.