Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko: Five things we learnt from the one of the greatest boxing matches in history


ANTHONY JOSHUA and Waldimir Klitschko put on one of the greatest fights in history at Wembley Stadium.

The English boxer knocked out the Ukrainian in the 11th round in a topsy-turvy clash to add the WBA and IBO world championships to his IBF belt.

Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko put up an epic battle at Wembley Stadium in a fight that will live long in the memory
PA:Press Association
The two heavyweights hit each other with their best shots with both men hitting the canvas in the fight
Reuters

Joshua sent Klitschko crashing to the ground in the fifth round, before the 41-year-old left the 2012 Olympic gold medallist to taste the canvas for the first time since turning pro with a straight right hand in the sixth round.

It looked as though the former unified champ would force the referee to bring a halt to the contest, but Joshua somehow battled back and picked up a second wind at the start of the 11th round.

He maintains his unbeaten record with 19 wins from 19 fights – all by knockout, to set up future clashed with WBC champ Deontay Wilder, WBO king Joseph Parker, and even Tyson Fury.

Here are five things we learnt from the clash.

Anthony Joshua landed a huge right uppercut in the 11th round that staggered the Ukrainian
Anthony Joshua landed a huge right uppercut in the 11th round that staggered the Ukrainian
Reuters

AJ IS THE REAL DEAL

Even though he is an Olympic champion and picked up the IBF belt in just his 16th fight, doubters still criticised the 27-year-old over his boxing abilities.

Joshua once again proved he has the power to hurt any heavyweight on the planet, but he he also showed he can win tough - picking himself off the canvas and survive an onslaught of punches to ultimately be the fighter with his hand raised.

Knowing Klitschko was smelling blood, Joshua was merciless when he sent him cowering back with a viscous uppercut in the 11th, and sent him to the floor twice in the round before the ref had to jump in.

The Wembley crowd were left stunned as Anthony Joshua was floored in the sixth round
The Wembley crowd were left stunned as Anthony Joshua was floored in the sixth round
Reuters

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO PROVES HE IS TILL AN ELITE FIGHTER

After his shock loss to Tyson Fury in November 2015, many people believed what sort of fighter would be entering the ring.

Not only was this his first fight in almost a year-and-a-half, but he also had to deal with the mental blow of losing for the first time in a decade, and came into tonight's match-up as an underdog.

He may have been knocked out, but this defeat bared no similarities to the devastating losses against Lamon Brewster and Corrie Sanders.

He came into the fight lighter than he has in the previous seven years, and he looked sharp and slick, and showed that he is still is a world class operator.

Wladimir Klitschko was knocked to the canvas twice in the 11th round, with 90,000 in Wembley on their feet
Wladimir Klitschko was knocked to the canvas twice in the 11th round, with 90,000 in Wembley on their feet
Getty Images

BOMBS AWAY

Deontay Wilder - the 'Bronze bomber' will be relishing a future match-up with Joshua, as a mega-fight between the pait edges closer.

The only fighter on the planet that comes close to Joshua in terms of freakish power is the undefeated American, who boasts a 97% knockout ratio.

In his 38 wins he has won 37 times before the final bell, and the WBC supremo was at Wembley Stadium as part of Sky Sports' commentary team.

Joshua has beaten three Americans in his last four fights, but Wilder will be the icing on the cake, and a first contest in the USA could be in the offing.

THE FURIOUS ONE

Joshua now shares a famous victory over Klitschko with Tyson Fury, but the question will remain whose win was more emphatic.

Make no mistake, the clinical finish of the newly crowned IBF, WBA and IBO belt was a more devastating win than Fury's was, but the Mancunian fighter was completely written off in his battle.

He was given no chance of defying the odds against the 1996 Olympics Games champ, and outclassed him in a boxing masterclass to win in Germany - a place feared he would never get the decision.

Of course Fury will have to obtain a boxing license and get in shape, but his unique style will no doubt provide another classic in what would easily sell out Wembley Stadium once more.

The referee brought a halt to the punishment and Anthony Joshua was crowned IBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight champ
The referee brought a halt to the punishment and Anthony Joshua was crowned IBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight champ
PA:Press Association

MORE TO COME FROM JOSH

Boxing looks to have a new pound-for-pound star in Anthony Joshua.

He may have already been world champ before tonight's fight, but this is the first elite world class fighter he has beaten on his record.

To not only climb off the canvas and win shows he has the right mental frame for the sport, and as he acknowledged in his post-match interview, he is not the finished product.

A huge weight would have been lifted off his shoulders knowing he belongs at the very top of boxing, and now he knows he's the best, there looks like there will be no sign in slowing him down.


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