The Heavyweight division was once the most coveted division in the sport. After the exit of legendary greats such as Tyson, Lewis, Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko, the division has seen questions raised, yet not all questions answered. The one mainstay with any true legitimacy over that span has been Wladimir Klitschko. An awkward style, heavy on hugs, light on the type of rage and aggression that Heavyweight fans love has left many questioning his true greatness. As Klitschko reaches the latter phase of his career, he faces perhaps the most dynamic force he has ever faced in his illustrious career. As we prepare for this showdown, we take a look at Keys to Victory, Four to Explore, and an Official Prediction.
Wladimir Klitschko
Wladimir Klitschko boxing news
The Anthony Joshua hype machine
By all accounts Anthony Joshua is a decent human being, an inordinately wealthy young fighter who hasn’t forgotten his roots and who always makes time for the fans. His recent decision to buy his old amateur coach a new BMW was notable in this regard, though the fact that a film was made and released of him doing so says much about a hype machine which after just 18 professional fights against a hodgepodge of journeymen, domestic-level opposition, and fading contenders, sees the 27 year old IBF heavyweight champion faces a 41 year old Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in front of 90,000 fans amid more fanfare than your average royal pageant. It is testament to the timeless words attributed to the great 19th century American showman, P T Barnum: “There’s a sucker born every minute.”
Mike Tyson: Anthony Joshua reminds me of a young George Foreman; he is a beast
You know it’s a big deal of a heavyweight fight if Mike Tyson is excited by it. And the former champ, the youngest belt-holder in boxing history at the age of just 20, is excited by tonight’s massive Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko clash. The biggest world heavyweight title fight in years, Klitschko-Joshua has captured the attention of just about everyone, “Iron” Mike included.
Speaking with Johnny Nelson of Sky Sports (who was, interestingly, set to fight Tyson in 2000, only for Tyson to fight another Brit in Julius Francis instead) Tyson said he thinks Joshua is a “beast,” who reminds him of the young George Foreman (Foreman of course being another fighter who was close to rumbling with Tyson – the “old” version of “Big” George).
Klitschko-Joshua weigh-in: Joshua 250, his career heaviest, Klitschko 240 – AJ going for power, Klitschko going for speed?
The weights are in for tomorrow night’s huge heavyweight title clash between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko, and both men look to be in absolutely fantastic physical condition. This of course is no surprise, but it might have come as a little bit of a surprise that Joshua tipped in at 250 pounds, the heaviest yet of his 18 fight pro career.
Some people felt Joshua, a real man-mountain, would weigh a little more than ex-champ Klitschko, who came in at a solid 240, but perhaps a few eyebrows were raised due to the fact that AJ weighed a full ten pounds heavier than Klitschko. Klitschko looks slim, svelte and trim; maybe the former king, who has said many times he is “obsessed” with regaining his belts, is planning on using speed, speed, speed tomorrow night.
Photos: Anthony Joshua: 250.1 lbs. Wladimir Klitschko: 240.5 lbs.
IBF Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua tipped the scale at 250 pounds and long-reigning champ Wladimir Klitschko measured 240 ½ pounds for their heavyweight blockbuster this Saturday live on SHOWTIME (4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT).
The ringwalks are set for 4:35 p.m. ET/1:35 p.m. PT with the first bell scheduled for 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT from sold-out Wembley Stadium where a record-setting 90,000 fans will witness the biggest heavyweight event in over a decade. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® pre-fight coverage begins live on SHOWTIME at 4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT with all the grand pre-fight pageantry from London.
Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko: No Country for Old Men
90,000 crazed fans will fill Wembley Stadium to root on their countryman Anthony Joshua in his quest to take the boxing world by the balls. Standing in his way is the former kingpin of the heavyweight division Wladimir Klitschko. It’s a classic tale of youth versus experience in a vintage match that could tilt the balance to the next generation.
If Joshua wins, especially convincingly a new era will be ushered in not just in the division but a new star will be born the world over. A Klitschko victory heightens his long-term legacy and at the same time cheapens the rest of the division to an extent moving forward besides Tyson Fury.
Joshua vs Klitschko: The Untested vs The Unloved
To point out that Britain’s Anthony Joshua remains untested in 18 professional fights is to wallow in understatement. Indeed, the IBF heavyweight champion is perhaps the most untested world heavyweight champion in living memory, a claim to which his record attests; he is yet to face elite opposition in a division that is now so starved of personnel that cruiserweight Tony Bellew is currently on course to challenge for one of the belts.
Joshua’s meteoric rise from novice to pay per view star, whose clash with Wladimir Klitschko will be in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in London on April 29, is testament not to his achievements in the ring but instead the promotional talents of Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn. The hype that has followed the 27-year old Olympic gold medallist since he entered the pro ranks in 2013 has been of the uncommon sort, to the point where you are left scratching your head in wonderment at the extent to which so many have been willing to suspend disbelief and allow themselves to be swept up in it.
The answer to the Joshua Klitschko question is Fury
Soon after 10pm in London on Saturday night, Anthony Joshua will meet Wladimir Klitschko in an incredibly interesting heavyweight match up to contest the IBF world title that is held by the former and the WBA and IBO belts which are vacant.
But forget draining the alphabet soup of titles for this one, because the real fascination in the clash between these two former Olympians is in the questions that only Wembley Stadium can answer on 29th April.
Joshua – Klitschko: Biggest betting fight in history?
William Hill, sponsor of Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko, is predicting the global betting industry turnover could reach £100 million (£20 million in the UK alone) for Saturday’s eagerly awaited world heavyweight showdown.
British sporting icon and current IBF world champion Joshua is the 4/9 favourite to win the fight – and in the process add the vacant WBA and IBO titles to his collection. AJ, who won Olympic gold at London 2012, has enjoyed a perfect start to his professional career with 18 wins from 18 fight – all coming by way of knockout. Unsurprisingly, William Hill are offering short odds of 8/13 for the Londoner to knockout Kitschko at Wembley Stadium.
Watch Joshua vs. Klitschko Weigh-In – Live Stream
https://youtu.be/YZ-Z5fWOL-A
Official Weights from London:
Anthony Joshua: 250.1 lbs.
Wladimir Klitschko: 240.5 lbs.
The heavyweight world championship bout between undefeated champion Anthony Joshua and long-reigning kingpin Wladimir Klitschko is the most significant heavyweight fight in more than a decade. SHOWTIME will televise live at 4:15 p.m. ET/1:15 p.m. PT from sold-out Wembley Stadium in London.