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BELLEW’S BIG-FIGHT VERDICT
With Floyd Mayweather retired, it’s time to crown the new king of boxing!
“All the questions got answered tonight. Anthony Joshua is the real deal – he ticked all the boxes tonight.
“He’s shown the world what he’s about here. He got through the shaky moments. There’s a new sheriff in town – and his name is Anthony Joshua.”
A gracious Klitschko congratulates Joshua – and insists he will analyse the fight before confirming his future plans.
“The best man won tonight. It was an amazing event who fought each other. Anthony was better today than I, it’s really sad that I didn’t make it tonight. I was planning to do it but it didn’t work.
All the respect to Anthony.I enjoyed the night. I wish I could’ve raised my hand. He got up and fought back to win the titles.”
An emotional Joshua takes the microphone from Sky Sports’ Andy Scott and addresses the full house at Wembley.
“As I said, I’m not perfect but I’m trying. You leave your ego at the door and respect your opponent. Wladimir is a role model in and out of the ring.
“I’m a little bit emotional, because I know I’ve got doubters. But I dig deep. When you go to the trenches, you find out who you really are.”
Just as they both said in the build-up, the two heavyweights shake hands at the end of a ferocious contest. There’s nothing but respect between the two warriors who entertained this sell-out crowd at Wembley and the many, many watching around the world.
SIMPLY PERFECT!
Joshua moves to 19-0, all of those victories by stoppage. He not only retains his IBF title but also adds the WBA ‘Super’ belt.
Oh, and the cards at the time of the stoppage:
96-93 AJ
95-93 – AJ
95-93 – WK
The referee steps in! Wlad finishes the fight on his feet, but wrapped in the arms of the official.
ANTHONY JOSHUA HAS STOPPED WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO IN THE 11th
Klitschko is knocked down by a left hook. Joshua has the Ukrainian in all sorts of trouble in the 11th.
Wlad’s sunk for a second time in the fight! He’s tagged early in round 11 and looks to be on his last legs.
“Joshua’a got to force the pace. Wlad looks like the one who’s tiring now. Anthony has got to use his size and strength.
“He HAS to force the pace – Wladimir is ready to be taken. He’s got his second wind – it’s time for him to take over this fight.”
ROUND 10
Scrappy 10th, and no surprises there as these two have put so much into the bout.
Klitschko’s using all the tricks of the trade, holding his younger opponent down at one stage and then sneaking in a right uppercut on the wrong side of the referee.
“KLITSCHKO! KLITSCHKO! KLITSCHKO” scream the Ukrainian’s supporters.
FROCH’S VERDICT
“Joshua seems to be recovered, seems to be steady on his feet. Klitshcko isn’t imposing himself enough.”
ROUND 9
Joshua just about bounces off his stool. This was a man who looked ready to drop three rounds ago, yet now seems ready for battle again. Both men have shown such impressive powers of recovery.
The ninth is a tricky round to score, Klitschko seems to be flagging and ties up his rival when the opportunity allows. Still, his jab is the most prominent punch over the course of the three minutes.
“He seems to be getting his feet back,” Froch says on commentary with regards Joshua.
He’s right, too. AJ is suddenly springing around the ring again, all the while poking out the jab.
Remember, he had a bad round against Dillian Whyte but found a second wind to force the stoppage. Still, that was in Round 7 – he’s now in uncharted waters in his pro career.
Klitschko popping out the jab with regularity – you know it’s only a matter of time until he follows it up with that right hand again. However, it’s a much quieter round than the last two, perhaps both men are taking stock and drawing on their energy reserves.
“You’ve got to be smarter,” Robert McCracken bellows at Joshua as he climbs off his stool for the eighth.
ROUND 6
Joshua survives…somehow.
That right hand down the pipe seemed to have finished the contest, but credit to the Englishman for rising up and weathering the storm. Had the follow-up left hand landed too, it would surely have ended right there and then.
AJ looks tired. There’s little life in his legs and although he smiles in the closing seconds, his mouth is dropping open to suck in air at every possible opportunity.
AJ DOWN!
RIGHT HAND DOWN THE MIDDLE!
A one-punch blow puts the IBF champion onto his backside. He’s up at eight and able to carry on though.
CUT ABOVE
Should be added, Klitschko has a nick above the left eye. It’s not dripping blood directly into it, though, so shouldn’t hamper his vision too much.
ROUND 5
WHAT. A. ROUND.
Wladimir was down and looked out, but somehow responds and has Joshua on the ropes in all sorts of trouble as the round ends. Both men stand and go toe-to-toe during an astonishing final minute.
Uppercut after uppercut from Klitschko seems to empty the tank of Joshua.
WLAD’S DOWN!
A massive start to the fifth from Joshua, who hurts Klitschko early and often. The Ukrainian does well to survive before finally dropping to the canvas, wilting down onto his knees.
ROUND 4
Joshua’s caught cold in the opening seconds of the fourth, taking not one but two rights in quick succession. He briefly looks stunned – but soon bounces back around on his toes to suggest he’s shaken off the blows.
AJ recovers his composure and tries to land a big right of his own, only to catch ‘Dr Steelhammer’ on the shoulder. Good job too, or else the prescription would’ve been nothing but pain.
We’re now 12 minutes through and still so, so many questions are unanswered. Gripping stuff.
ROUND 3
Ah, now here’s the aggressive AJ so many expected to see early on. He pressurises Klitscho and gets the chance to work inside. The short left hook is working well for him, and is the table-setter for the overhand right.
Klitschko looks far less comfortable when he’s being backed up. He tries the left-hook lead that has caught out many in the final minute of the third, but Joshua sees it coming and covers up.
ROUND 2
Joshua is the one stepping forward, at times doubling up the jab in an attempt. Klitschko has good head movement and continues to feint in the hope of launching a counter, but as yet he’s thrown very little. There was one nice right hand early on in the round – and that could well be enough to sway the ringside judges. Tough, tough round to score.
“I like how Joshua is setting the pace. He’s setting him up,” says Deontay Wilder.
ROUND 1
Klitschko is using his left-hand, positioned low, near his hip, to feint his opponent. The right is the punch he wants to land, but for now it’s all about finding his range and sizing up the champion.
Joshua lands the best punch of the first, a short, sharp left hook on a rare occasion when the two are up close. He’s also on target with one right over the top of the Klitschko jab, but it is, as expected, a cautious start from both men.
WE’RE UNDERWAY!
The first bell sounds – the clash of ages has begun.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
We’re just seconds away now.
WISE WORDS
This man knows a thing or two about huge heavyweight showdowns…
INTRODUCING…
The crowd roar as Anthony Joshua’s 18-0 record is read out by Michael Buffer.
He looks steely, and focused.
Michael Buffer reads the long list of Wladimir Klitschko’s career accomplishments.
Can he add one more notable victory?
David Fields is the referee.
Louise Johnson sings ‘God Save The Queen’.
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Ukraine’s anthem sung by Natalya Klitschko, Vitali’s wife.
TALE OF THE TAPE
AJ is lifted into the London night on a stage as he makes a spectacular entrance. Nerves? What nerves! The IBF champion looks remarkably calm as he heads down towards the ring, bumping fists with fans as he smiles all the way.