Anthony Joshua ponders the question for what seems a silent eternity.

He could say: ‘Me, after I beat Charles Martin to win the IBF title on Saturday night.’

He could say: ‘Deontay Wilder, because he’s knocked out more opponents than me and already holds the iconic WBC belt.’

Watford-born boxer Anthony Joshua shows off his talents in front of the public during a London workout

Charles Martin is not fancied by many to get the better of Joshua at The 02 Arena this coming Saturday

This is what he has just been asked: ‘Who’s the real world heavyweight champion?’

Finally he lets out an ironic chuckle. His answer: ‘Tyson Fury right now. Wladimir Klitschko was the man for 10 years, so now it has to be the man who beat him.’

His inherent honesty gets the better of his reluctance. He tells it as it is even though Fury has ridiculed and insulted him.

Joshua is concerned the Gipsy King will be psychologically unable to cope with the dethronement

Joshua and Shannon Briggs strike a pose for Sportsmail’s Kevin Quigley on Monday night in London

Unbeaten boxer Joshua throws some punches at York Hall on Monday night in preparation for Saturday

Good for Joshua. The truth and his own integrity matter more to this man than trash-talking and grudge-bearing. Although he does then find a subtler way of putting Fury in his place: ‘Tyson is the man . . . until I beat him.’

And when that happens — or if Klitschko beats Fury in their rematch — Joshua is concerned the Gipsy King will be psychologically unable to cope with the dethronement.

‘Tyson won’t know how to handle it,’ he says. ‘All credit to him how he beat Klitschko but behind all the chatter he’s just another boxer. It would help him when defeat comes if he could be a bit more modest and humble.’

American boxer Martin will stand in the way of unbeaten Joshua at a sold-out 02 Arena on Saturday 

Joshua does some pad work on Monday night at a public workout at York Hall ahead of his next bout

American boxer Martin shows the public what he is working with as he shows off his guns on Monday

Yet our Olympic champion does not see the ‘inevitable fight’ with Fury as a case of good guy versus bad guy.

Joshua says: ‘That may be good box office but I don’t see myself typecast like that. Not even as the good guy. I am just me. Myself. I don’t play any character. When I look in the bathroom mirror in the morning I want to see the real AJ.’

The real AJ used boxing to escape the Watford street gangs and turned himself into as decent a young man as any mother could wish her daughter to bring home.

The real AJ, now 26, is also a more potent threat to Martin than he suspects the American champion realises.

Joshua is all smiles as the photographers snap his picture in preparation for his weekend exploits 

Joshua: ‘There are massive UK stadium fights to be had with fights between me, Fury and David Haye

Joshua used boxing to escape the Watford street gangs and turned himself into as decent a young man

‘There can only be one of two reasons why he has agreed to come over to London for his first defence of his title,’ says Joshua.

‘Option one is that he and his team are underestimating me. That he looks on beating me as easy pickings and his people know how big the UK boxing market is so he can gain overseas recognition while he’s at it.

‘Option two, since he is on a big purse, is that he wants to grab a lot of English money as quick as he can. Either way he’s making a big mistake.’

The bookies are betting on Joshua to once again to do his part at The 02 Arena – this time against Martin

Joshua insists won’t rush into London’s sold-out O2 Arena looking for a quick KO on Saturday night

But Joshua won’t rush into London’s sold-out O2 Arena looking for a quick KO, the way he has thus far.

He says: ‘I know this is my biggest test to date. I know Martin is a big puncher with an impressive knockout record of his own, so I will be patient. Pick my shots. Make sure I don’t run on to one of his big wild left swings with 18 stone behind it. Break him down. Then take him out with one of my bombs. It will probably take about seven rounds.’

While Joshua is not looking past Martin, he is aware of the huge interest in all-British bouts.

He says: ‘There are massive UK stadium fights to be had with fights between me, Fury and David Haye. We have to face one another the way heavyweight champions did in the past. We have to make each other part of our legacy.

Martin holds up his hands to the crowd during a public workout in London on Monday ahead of Saturday

Joshua does not see the ‘inevitable fight’ with Fury as a case of good guy versus bad guy when it happens

Joshua is not looking past Martin, but  Watford fighter is aware of the huge interest in all-British bouts

‘David needs to build his comeback. Tyson must beat Klitschko again. I will take care of Martin. Then we three have to brace up and get it on.

‘I believe I will soon be seasoned enough to beat them both. Then, as unified world champion, I know the pressures and the role-model responsibilities will grow much greater. I’m preparing myself for that, too. I will handle it.’

The instincts are admirable and the public will warm to them. His personality will shine bright on Saturday when he takes with him to the O2 the coaches at the Fitzroy Lodge amateur boxing club in south London who groomed him to win the Olympics and set him up for professional glory.

‘I gave them my word they would be there with me when I win a world title,’ he says.

So far, albeit in just 15 paid fights, Joshua has kept all his promises. The bookies are betting on him doing so again.

Martin v Joshua will be televised live this Saturday night on Sky Sports Box Office.