If Wladimir Klitschko was in his prime, could he beat Anthony Joshua?


The Joshua vs. Klitschko fight will be for the former’s IBF heavyweight belt as well as the vacant WBA (Super) and IBO heavyweight titles. It pits one of the best young boxers in the sport in Joshua stepping up to fight an absolute legend in Klitschko.


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.

Scorecard: Joshua gets up from canvas to KO Klitschko

Just how much does Wladimir Klitschko have left in the tank facing a primed athletic fighter? Hopefully for his sake more than what was on display back in late November 2015 in a lopsided defeat to Tyson Fury. To pile on a foothill of reasons why the Ukrainian native is the betting underdog, is the old saying of father-time remaining unbeaten. If that’s the case, Saturday the dreaded father-time could feast on an aged man returning from his longest stretch of inactivity.

Anthony Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko by technical knockout in the 11th round on Saturday, April 29th, 2017, at Wembley Stadium, London.

Joshuan otteluista vain neljä on jatkunut vähintään neljänteen erään asti lontoolaisen iskettyä 16 vastustajaansa kanveesin kolmen ensimmäisen erän aikana. Vain Carlos Takam sekä Vladimir Klitschko ovat kestäneet yli kymmen erää ammattilaiskehässä vuoden 2012 Lontoon olympialaisten kultamitalistin käsittelyssä. Parkerin kolme viimeisintä voittoa on tullut vasta 12 erän jäkeen, joten uusiseelantilaisella pitäisi olla edellytykset venyttää ratkaisu myöhempiin eriin.

For complete ‘Joshua vs. Klitschko’ results and coverage click .


Joshua vs. Klitschko fight card: Full list of undercard bouts

to see if the 41-year-old can reclaim two of the belts he lost when he was beaten by Tyson Fury in November 2015, which remains the last time he fought.

Joshua beat Klitschko in front of a mega 90,000 at Wembley Stadium

It’s Joshua’s duty to make sure Klitschko is weary of incoming shots making him hesitant and indecisive offensively. If Anthony can’t adjust to the jab it will be a long (or short) night filled with one clean land and a grab on the inside. That’s not to say AJ’s jab is poor, it’s not and he will attempt to unload his arsenal behind his jab instead of settling for pot shots.

Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko Special Preview Boxing Show

In 2014, when Joshua first arrived in Austria, Klitschko was preparing to face Kubrat Pulev, which, it could be argued, is the last time he looked anywhere near his best in the ring.

INSIGHT Wladimir Klitschko: I Totally Get Anthony Joshua

The stats suggested Joshua had an advantage in power over Klitschko, with a 100% knockout percentage compared to Klitschko's 83%.

Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko: 18 fights, 18 KOs..

So when he got the call to join Klitschko in his training camp in the Austrian Alps, he jumped at the chance. For the Ukrainian, Joshua’s presence at Stanglwirt that summer made a lasting impression.

Anthony Joshua beats Wladimir Klitschko by KO

vs , was a professional boxing match contested on 29 April 2017 at in , England, with Joshua's and the vacant and titles on the line. Joshua won the match via (TKO) in the eleventh round with 90,000 fans in attendance. Klitschko announced his retirement from boxing a few months after the fight. The bout was named and the .

Anthony Joshua beats Wladimir Klitschko in 11th round ..

Joshua was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 50 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2013, 16 years and 10 months later than Klitschko, whose first professional fight was in 1996. He had fought 202 fewer professional rounds, totaling 167 compared to Klitschko's 369.

Joshua by TKO/KO (-150) over Wladimir Klitschko in 2017

After a blockbuster December boxing card in Dubai, the heavyweight division has Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk vying for supremacy alongside a roster of contenders, including Filip Hrgović, Zhiel Zhang, and Joseph Parker. Usyk and Fury are expected to meet on 17 February 2024, to decide the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Anthony Joshua: The Road to Klitschko

Lack of reflexes due to age combined with a long layoff will retire Dr. Steelhammer but his ability to land and clinch will keep him upright or at least on his feet after 12 rounds. The thought of Wlad down on the all scorecards in the Tyson Fury fight and not showing any real desperation is troubling. Then again Joshua hasn’t gone past the 7th round and with all those muscles he’s bound to get gassed. This podcaster is banking on Anthony Joshua finding his second win after early problems.

Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko (2017)

Heavyweight: Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko
Featherweight: Scott Quigg vs. Viorel Simion
Lightweight: Luke Campbell vs. Darleys Perez
Women’s lightweight: Katie Taylor vs. Nina Meinke
Welterweight: Josh Kelly vs. Faheem Khan
Cruiserweight: Lawrence Okolie vs. Russ Henshaw
Super featherweight: Joe Cordina vs. Sergej Vib