Anthony Joshua has urged Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor to leave a boxing legacy after their super fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The heavyweight world champion has rejected claims the boxing-meets-MMA bout makes a mockery of the sweet science, insisting everybody can prosper from the attention it is receiving.

It contrasts with the sportsmanship and respect shown between Joshua and Wladamir Klitschko before and after their world heavyweight fight at Wembley earlier in the year.

Now Joshua hopes to see fans witness something similar in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Floyd Mayweather and Conor Mcgregor
Image: AFP

“No matter the outcome, they should show a lot of respect and class,” Joshua said.

“Sometimes what you say after, if they can show a bit of class and integrity, will capture the attention of adults who will tell their kids, ‘listen to what they said.’

“It gives kids a window to come into the sport, then you’re creating more champions, it keeps people in jobs for longer. People always remember the end.

“People will look at the Mayweather versus McGregor fight and then they’ll start filtering down, everybody will benefit.”

The fighters with wear eight ounce gloves, rather than the mandatory 10 ounce gloves for fights at 154 pounds or above.

The move brings a greater prospect of a knockout, something that has pleased McGregor — who uses four ounce gloves in the UFC —due to the likelihood that he will look to beat Mayweather by knockout rather than points.

It should help Mayweather too though, thanks to his superior hand speed and timing, but despite facing a boxing novice in McGregor, Joshua insists the American should not be condemned if he fails to knock the Irishman out.

“If it was a heavyweight, then yes [he should knock out an MMA fighter in a boxing ring],” Joshua remarked.