Sport

Anthony Joshua comes of age

In one of the most exciting heavyweight title fights of all time, the golden boy of British boxing climbed off the canvas to win his epic clash with the legendary Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in front of 90,000
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Getty / Richard Heathcote / Staff

In one of the most dramatic heavyweight fights of the modern era, Anthony Joshua defeated Wladimir Klitschko to retain his IBF title and add the WBA belt to his collection.

In front of 90,000 screaming fans at Wembley Stadium, Joshua faced the biggest challenge of his career and had to climb off the canvas to stop the legendary Ukrainian in the 11th round.

“I’m not perfect,” Joshua said in his post-fight interview. “But I’m trying.”

On an emotionally charged evening, Joshua looked his usual relaxed self when he made his way to the ring, bumping fists with fans and smiling for the cameras. But that all changed when he was introduced by the voice of boxing, Michael Buffer. Joshua stared unblinkingly at his 41-year-old opponent who remarkably had more knock-outs on his record than Joshua has rounds.

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And from the outset, it was Klitschko who looked more comfortable in the fight. He dominated the centre of the ring, forced Joshua on to the back foot, and established his jab to great effect. Rolling back the years, Klitschko was mobile, fast on his fight and made his years of experience count to take an early points lead.

In the opposite corner, Joshua’s trainer Rob McCracken – who takes his Wembley super-fight record to 2-0, having guided Carl Froch to victory against George Groves in 2014 – urged his man to relax, be patient, and wait for his opportunities.

But Joshua seemed tense and eager to engage with Klitschko and after starting to enjoy success in rounds three and four, it was Joshua who looked to have won the fight in the fifth, knocking Klitschko down early. However, in his desperation to finish the fight, Joshua almost punched himself and Klitschko recovered to turn the fight around.

As Joshua gulped in air at the start of the sixth, Klitschko found the right hand he had been looking for all night and caught his opponent with a punch that sent Joshua down and, to the shock of everyone, almost out. On wobbly legs and blowing hard, Joshua looked one punch away from defeat, but some how dug deep to survive the round.

However, it didn’t look good for GQ’s two-time cover star in rounds seven and eight as Klitschko looked to close the show, but Joshua survived and thanks to his youth and incredible physical conditioning, found a second wind.

Read more: Anthony Joshua beats Wladimir Klitschko: 'I'm going to conquer America'

It was still a close fight with both looking to land that one big shot, but it was the younger man who, despite having never been beyond seven round in his previous 18 fights, found the punch that mattered in the 11th round. In a brutal, agonising finish to the fight, Joshua patiently stalked his injured foe around the ring, knocking him down with a flurry of heavy blows until the referee had no choice but to wave the fight over.

It was exhausting and exhilarating fight to watch, let alone take part in, and Joshua fell into the arms of his trainer as the ring was invaded and the majority of the Wembley crowd sighed with relief.

It was a remarkable end to what had been a breathlessly exciting clash that won both men huge respect and established Joshua as the king of the heavyweight division.

“The best man won,” said Klitschko.

“Can I go home now?” asked Joshua.

But he didn’t leave before calling out his British rival, Tyson Fury (who quickly accepted on Twitter). After all, at 27 Joshua’s career is only just getting started, as he proved tonight.

Now read: Anthony Joshua beats Wladimir Klitschko: 'I'm going to conquer America'