Anthony Joshua stops Wladimir Klitschko in 11th round of epic bout
:focal(140x151:142x149)/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2020/04/28/2811917-58003384-310-310.png)
Updated 30/04/2017 at 08:38 GMT
Anthony Joshua stopped Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round of a truly incredible fight at Wembley on Saturday.
Anthony Joshua celebrates victory over Wladimir Klitschko in the IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium
Image credit: Getty Images
Going past the seventh round for the first time in his career Joshua responded to hitting the canvas for the first time by securing an incredible win against an opponent who surprised everyone.
Joshua had to fight more than in any of his other bouts by some distance, as Klitschko showed far more than in his bout with Tyson Fury.
Klitschko was superb and belied his 41 years as he showed great poise and mobility as Joshua struggled to keep the pace with the former world champion.
However in the 11th, out of nowhere, Joshua found something, something deep down inside him and he unleashed an incredible right-hander to floor Klitschko.
He got up, but he was met by a left-hook and the referee ended it there and then, to give Joshua his 19th win, all by stoppage.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/30/2073107-43457350-2560-1440.jpg)
After a cagey start the fifth round proved to be one of the all-time greats, as Joshua floored Klitschko only to see his opponent come right back at him, landing a series of his own punches.
When Joshua went down it seemed as if he might be finished as Klitschko started to take control despite trainer Rob McCracken berating Joshua.
That comeback though will go down in history, as one of the greatest moments in the history of the sport - Joshua showed the heart of a champion to do what he did.
Speaking afterwards Joshua was typically humble, speaking of his utmost respect for Klitschko: "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."
As for Klitschko his reaction was as classy as you would have expected, saying "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."
Round-by-round recap
Early on Klitschko was pushing out, which went against most of Joshua's fight patterns, but Joshua was alert to the danger and managed to land a couple of early punches.
In the second Klitschko landed one with his right hand but Joshua looked sharper and managed to get in one of his own.
Joshua took the fight to his opponent in the third with Klitschko looking in better shape than his fight against Fury but visibly slower than his opponent, 14 years his junior.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/29/2072984-43454890-2560-1440.jpg)
Anthony Joshua (White Shorts) and Wladimir Klitschko (Gray Shorts) in action during the IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Both fighters traded blows in the fourth as Klitschko came out after the bell looking to attack, a stark contrast to his bout with Fury, and Joshua received a warning for a body shot as they were separated by referee David Fields.
Joshua ended that round well with a good combo, seemingly unshaken by the early punch from his opponent.
That momentum carried into the fifth when Joshua floored Klitschko with a series of impressive punches that left the former world champion rattled, and forcing some mistakes as Joshua read the punches and ducked well.
Klitschko wasn't done though and he came back really well to end an extraordinary round with a few of his own despite obvious damage.
'Dr Steelhammer' then floored Joshua for the first time in his career with a powerful right hand and even though Joshua got back on his feet suddenly the table had turned.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/29/2072991-43455030-2560-1440.jpg)
Anthony Joshua (White Shorts) and Wladimir Klitschko (Gray Shorts) in action during the IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
McCracken was not amused with Joshua after the seventh, despite the boxer saying he had that round off. The trainer demanded his fighter "be smarter."
As Joshua entered the unknown, going into the eighth for the first time in his career, he took a right hand from Klitschko well and ended well landing a punch just before the bell went.
He regrouped in the ninth and did really well as his opponent showed signs of starting to tire.
Klitschko showed his experience in the tenth, using his experience to try and hold off his opponent as the fight wore on.
However Joshua landed a massive right hand at the start of the 11th and not for the first time the momentum switched as Klitschko fought to recover from the surprise of the blow.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/29/2073006-43455330-2560-1440.jpg)
Anthony Joshua Vladimir Klitschko
Image credit: Getty Images
Then came the sucker punch as Joshua floored him once again and despite Fields giving Klitschko time to recover, this was all Joshua as he secured his 19th straight knockout.
Undercard
The undercard was full of good news for British and Irish boxers as Katie Taylor, Luke Campbell and Scott Quigg all won their bouts.
Taylor won her fifth professional fight by forcing a seventh-round stoppage against Nina Meinke due to a cut above her opponent's eye.
Meinke came into the fight unbeaten but the fight had to be stopped due to the cut, which was caused by an accidental collision.
That isn't to take anything away from Taylor though, with the 2012 Olympic gold medal winner in fine form and well on top before the stoppage.
It is another relatively comfortable victory for Taylor who has been hugely impressive since turning professional.
She's closer to a world title fight now and speaking afterwards promoter Eddie Hearn said "Next will be America in June or July - she must box there,
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/29/2072946-43454130-2560-1440.jpg)
Katie Taylor (L) and Nina Meinke (R) in action during the WBA Lightweight Championship bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
"We're potentially looking at the Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev card or headlining ourselves."
Another 2012 gold winner, Luke Campbell, will now face the WBA lightweight champion Jorge Linares
Campbell started really slowly against Darleys Perez, who landed a series of blows on his opponent.
In the fourth Campbell finally broke through and after a couple of impressive hits in the seventh and eighth Perez complained of an arm injury in the ninth
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/29/2072957-43454350-2560-1440.jpg)
Luke Campbell celebrates victory over Darleys Perez in the WBA Leightweight Eliminator bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England
Image credit: Getty Images
Linares was in the crowd to watch the fight and he talked of his openness to another fight in England.
In the final fight before Joshua and Klitschko Scott Quigg moved closer to a world title fight of his own as he won a universal decision against Viorel Simion.
Quigg, in his first fight with trainer Freddy Roach won with two scorecards of 117-111 and one of 115-113.
In a fierce fight both boxers landed telling blow on the other but as the fight wore on the younger Quigg appeared the favourite.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2017/04/29/2072959-43454390-2560-1440.jpg)
Scott Quigg celebrates victory over Viorel Simion in the IBF Featherweight bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
He didn't hold anything back and even though he took his fair share of punches he was giving more out and he was quicker, and more accurate.
His next opponent could be the IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby, who clearly wasn't too impressed by what he saw.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement