Wladimir Klitschko retires as rematch with Anthony Joshua is cancelled
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Updated 03/08/2017 at 08:58 GMT
Wladimir Klitschko has retired from boxing, ending any hopes of a rematch with Anthony Joshua in Las Vegas.
Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko
Image credit: Getty Images
The Briton beat the Ukrainian at Wembley in April in a thrilling fight where both men were knocked down before the 27-year-old KO'd his opponent in the penultimate round.
The rematch was due on November 11, but Klitschko – who was undisputed heavyweight champion for nearly 10 years before losing his title to Tyson Fury – ended any chance of that fight going ahead with his decision.
Klitschko explained the reasons for his retirement in a statement on his website. It read: "I deliberately took a few weeks to make my decision, to make sure I had enough distance from the fight at Wembley Stadium.
As an amateur and a professional boxer, I have achieved everything I dreamed of, and now I want to start my second career after sports.
"I would have never imagined that I would have such a long and incredibly successful boxing career. I'm very thankful for this.
"Thanks to everyone who has always supported me. Especially my family, my team and my many fans."
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Anthony Joshua Vladimir Klitschko
Image credit: Getty Images
Klitschko's manager Bernd Bonte insisted it was a tough call for the Ukrainian to bow out after two losses. Fury had twice cancelled a rematch for 2016, before being forced to vacate the WBA belt, leaving Klitschko and Joshua to fight for the world title earlier this year.
And after such a close match, Bonte said it was a question of motivation. "Especially after this terrific fight at Wembley Stadium it was a very tough decision for Wladimir to make," he said.
But he has always emphasized that he wanted to retire if he didn’t have enough motivation anymore. Therefore this is definitively the right decision.
"Wladimir accomplished everything in his unique boxing career. He dominated the Heavyweight division for over a decade."
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