Wladimir Klitschko has dismissed accusations of being a “whiner” and a “softie” as he prepares for his title defence against Alex Leapai.

A former sparring partner, Sherman Williams, has told a German newspaper, Die Welt, how he thinks Leapai can take the world title home to Australia.

"Hit him with left and right shots to the body and then hit him on the chin with the right," Williams said. "I guarantee if Alex fights the way I tell him to, Klitschko will throw his arms around like an octopus. He doesn't like being hit on the shoulders and back."

Responding to some of Williams’s remarks, Klitschko said, jokingly: "Of course I'm a softie and a whiner; didn't you know that already?"

The 34-year-old Leapai has vowed to "go to war" with 38-year-old Klitschko, who will be defending his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles in Oberhausen on Saturday night.

Williams, 41, said Leapai should “go courageously straight at Klitschko” as soon as the bell goes for the first round.

The American was one of Klitschko's ten sparring partners at his Austrian training camp in preparation for the fight on Saturday night.

But Klitschko's manager, Bernd Boente, said Williams had been released early after poor performances in sparring against the champion.

"He was so bad that he was like a living punch bag," Boente said. “He came totally overweight to the camp and was sent home, so this is no more than tit for tat from him."