Anthony Joshua still believes he is among the best three heavyweights in the world ahead of his return to the ring.

Joshua faces Jermaine Franklin at London's O2 Arena next Saturday eager to taste victory for the first time since 2020. 

Consecutive defeats by unified champ Oleksandr Usyk have taken the former Olympic champion away from the world-title picture and he is no longer in the top three of the WBA, WBO, WBC or IBF rankings. 

But when asked who he thinks the best heavyweights around are, Joshua said: "Usyk, Tyson Fury and myself. 

"Minus me, Usyk, Fury and Deontay Wilder because he is a former champion. 

"I rate the rankings. I have been in top 10 for the last how many years? About eight years I have been in the top 10 so I rate them. 

"As long as I am in the top 10 I am happy but to be there consistently is not easy. It is all about who you fight as well. 

"Rankings are important but you need to fight the big names as well."

WBA 'regular' title-holder Daniel Dubois is next in line to face Usyk.  

The Ukrainian, 36, had been expected to fight WBC kingpin Fury at Wembley to determine an undisputed champion at the end of April but the showdown collapsed earlier this week. 

That has opened the door for an all-British contest to finally occur after Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn insinuated they would be willing to speak with Team Fury should the Watford-born ace beat Franklin. 

Negotiations between the two teams have twice previously fallen through. And while Joshua has no qualms with Fury being the "people's champion", he knows his own worth. 

AJ added: "Remember I put a lot of effort into pushing the heavyweight division into a healthy place early on in my career. 

"I understood the concept of marketing and PR and it shows in the figures, right? It shows in the figures with brand partnerships and stuff. 

"It didn't happen easily. But yeah, he's a people's champion. I'm a people's champion. There is no competition in that sense. 

"The only competition I need to have with him is in the ring."

Fury and Usyk were set to fight on April 29 with a 70-30 split in favour of the Gypsy King but talks to put all four belts on the line ended this week.

Joshua said: "If he is doing 70-30 for an undisputed cruiserweight fighter and unified heavyweight champion, what is he going to try and offer me? 

"It is just a nightmare. But look, I have a great team in my corner. I have a great promotional company, a great management company that help me. 

"I don't make all the decisions myself. I am in the gym. 

"When that fight — God willing — happens, they will back my corner and they know what I bring to the table. 

"They will negotiate fiercely to make sure I get a lion's share as well as what's on the table. I will leave it to them to do their best to represent me in the right fashion."