Joshua, 27, climbed off the canvas to stop Klitschko last Saturday, winning the WBA to add to his IBF title in an explosive fight akin to those seen in the Rocky movies.
And during an interview with ESPN, Tyson said: “Whenever there’s a new heavyweight champion and he’s explosive like that and wins the title like that it changes the whole game.
“All the little guys that were making a lot of money are not going to make their money any more. It’s all going to be about Joshua and the heavyweights now. That one fight changed boxing.”
Tyson tore up the heavyweight division in his prime, bludgeoning 27 opponents before destroying Trevor Berbick for the WBC and WBA heavyweight title in 1986, aged just 20.
No one has come close to matching Tyson’s extreme punching power or ferocity since, but Joshua’s style – and indeed his upbringing – has drawn comparison with Iron Mike.
Tyson was arrested several times as a teenager before joining Cus D’Amato’s boxing stable, while Joshua has also had brushes with the law.
“I see the comparison, sure,” said Tyson. “If you are of an Afro-English background you’re likely to have a tough time; if you’re born in the wrong part of town it’s always going to be rough. You’re going to be financially challenged, scholastically challenged. It was like that for me and it’s like that now.
“Boxing gives kids – like me, like Joshua – an outlet. You can take a guy with nothing, clean them up and next thing he’s meeting the President of the United States or the Prime Minister of the UK. It’s a great leveller.”
Tyson unified the division to become the undisputed heavyweight king – but he has advised Joshua to steer clear of a fight with WBC title holder Deontay Wilder, who has 37 knockouts in 38 fights.
“I really don’t think Deontay Wilder would be a good fight for him. Joshua is still just a baby with 19 fights. He needs a couple more.”
