Joshua wins world titles with 11th-round stoppage of Klitschko

[rooster59]

Joshua wins world titles with 11th-round stoppage of Klitschko

By Ian Chadband

 

Britain Boxing - Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko IBF, IBO & WBA Super World Heavyweight Title's - Wembley Stadium, London, England - 29/4/17 Anthony Joshua celebrates with trainer Robert McCracken after winning the fight Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge Livepic

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Anthony Joshua delivered one of the great nights in British boxing annals by stopping Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round to be crowned IBF, WBA and IBO world heavyweight champion in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

 

Britain's unbeaten IBF title holder earned a sensational victory by knocking down the 41-year-old former champion twice in the 11th and penultimate round before the referee stepped in to save Klitschko from any more punishment.

 

What was hailed as the biggest fight night ever staged in a British ring, watched by the largest crowd for a boxing show in Britain for 78 years, lived up to its billing.

 

It was a thrilling contest which saw both combatants clamber off the canvas seemingly on the verge of defeat and looks destined to be recalled as one of the great heavyweight title fights.

 

Joshua survived a knockdown for the first time in his professional career in the sixth round and looked close to surrendering his unbeaten record until his late bombardment forced the stoppage.

 

In a sensational fifth round, Joshua knocked down Klitschko only to end up hanging on desperately at the end of the round as the Ukrainian launched a remarkable comeback.

 

The veteran had even looked the more likely winner as he defied a 14-year age gap and was outboxing Joshua in the latter stages until the Briton produced a blistering finish to take his unbeaten record to 19 straight stoppage wins.

 

Both men had to dig deep and both looked close to exhaustion before the 27-year-old Joshua's youth, fitness and sheer power took over in a penultimate round that sent the huge crowd into ecstasy as two barrages sent Klitschko down.

 

"What can I say? 19-0, three-and-a-half years in the game. As I said, I'm not perfect but I'm trying," Joshua told the cheering crowd from the ring.

"As boxing states, you leave your ego at the door and you respect your opponent. So a massive shout out to Wladimir Klitschko."

 

"The best man won tonight and it's a massive event for boxing," responded Klitschko after his second defeat in succession at the hands of a British heavyweight following the loss of his titles to Tyson Fury 17 months ago after an 11-year reign.

 

"Two gentleman fought each other. Anthony was better today. It's really sad I didn't make it."

 

The fight attracted a gate that had not been matched for a British show since Len Harvey fought Jock McAvoy for the British light-heavyweight title at another London venue, White City, in 1939.

 

The mutual praise between Joshua and Klitschko echoed the civilised and respectful way the two former Olympic champions had behaved in the build-up to the contest but there was nothing civil about the brutal punishment they dished out to each other.

 

After four rounds of feeling each other out, with Klitschko's movement and Joshua's power quite apparent, the crowd were not prepared for an astonishing fifth round.

 

First, Joshua launched a blistering left hook and followed up with a flurry of punches that saw the Ukrainian drop to his knees and, when he rose groggily, take a standing count.

 

Klitschko suddenly looked old and the end seemed nigh as Joshua roared in to finish the job but that was when he found his champion's spirit in his desperation, landing a big left of his own to leave Joshua in real peril.

 

The Ukrainian continued in the sixth, setting up his opponent with the jab before a huge right cross sent Joshua down.

 

He scrambled off his knees but it did not look as if he would see the eighth round, uncharted territory for the Briton who had won all his previous fights within seven.

 

Yet after Klitschko had, remarkably, looked almost the younger of the two fighters in the stretch, Joshua demonstrated real heart to go with his power as he unleashed a right uppercut that signalled the final assaults on the Ukrainian's scrambled senses.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-04-30

[darksidedog]

That was truly an excellent fight and congratulations to Joshua. He showed great character and the finish was awesome.

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Yes, awesome finish to a great fight. Heavyweight boxing is back!

[KhunBENQ]

Although I am not a boxing enthusiast I watched it this morning on time shift.

Yes Joshua is great, but he learned new things.

More than 7 rounds, being brought down, stagger around.

In rounds 5 and 6 the fight was on the edge and could have ended either way.

Someday he will also meet his master.

 

[Hutch68]

Nonsense, Joshua was a very lucky man and on his way to a loss... a younger Klitchsko would have beaten him easy.
That lucky punch cost me £600![emoji29]


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[KhunBENQ]

31 minutes ago, Hutch68 said:

Nonsense, Joshua was a very lucky man and on his way to a loss

I was hesitating to use such harsh words

To many English on the forum.

[Leicamera]

What a joke of a so called sport this has turned into......

[daveAustin]

Nonsense, Joshua was a very lucky man and on his way to a loss... a younger Klitchsko would have beaten him easy.
That lucky punch cost me £600![emoji29]


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

I must have been watching a different match then because from what I saw Wladimir was well beaten. Don't understand people on this forum and talking nonsense.

[Hutch68]

Then you must have been, Joshua was behind on the scorecards and getting totally out boxed in the latter rounds and had it gone the distance would have been a unanimous decision for Wlad.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Hutch68]

At least that's how me Lenox and Evander had it!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Kadilo]

Then you must have been, Joshua was behind on the scorecards and getting totally out boxed in the latter rounds and had it gone the distance would have been a unanimous decision for Wlad.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Wrong. They are irrelevant. 2 of the 3 judges has Joshua 3 rounds up so he was indeed in front


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Hutch68]

Wrong. They are irrelevant. 2 of the 3 judges has Joshua 3 rounds up so he was indeed in front


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

You try telling that to Lenox!


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Retiredandhappyhere]

7 hours ago, Hutch68 said:

Nonsense, Joshua was a very lucky man and on his way to a loss... a younger Klitchsko would have beaten him easy.
That lucky punch cost me £600!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

Perhaps, your 600 pound loss was the cause of your sour grapes?  

[Hutch68]

Perhaps, your 600 pound loss was the cause of your sour grapes?  

No sour grapes here mr, I'm glad Joshua won but I didn't think he would after a 2nd 3rd and 4th viewing I stand by my word Klitschko was winning that fight by 3 rounds and was in full control until that big punch landed.
No mater we can watch a real boxer on the 27th of may mr Kell Brook, a friend of mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Baerboxer]

On 4/30/2017 at 1:12 PM, Hutch68 said:

Nonsense, Joshua was a very lucky man and on his way to a loss... a younger Klitchsko would have beaten him easy.
That lucky punch cost me £600!


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

When he was knocked down, Joshua was leading by two points on two judges cards and had already floored Klitschko. 

 

Nothing lucky about picking yourself off the floor and fighting several more rounds before delivering a superb knockout. You ever been in a boxing ring?

 

I doubt a younger Klitschko would have beaten him easily either.

 

 

[Baerboxer]

13 hours ago, Hutch68 said:

No sour grapes here mr, I'm glad Joshua won but I didn't think he would after a 2nd 3rd and 4th viewing I stand by my word Klitschko was winning that fight by 3 rounds and was in full control until that big punch landed.
No mater we can watch a real boxer on the 27th of may mr Kell Brook, a friend of mine.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

Then your view was different to the judges, the pundits, the ex-fighters, the celebs and just about anyone else who commented on the fight.

 

Let's hope Brook does better than last time.

[Hutch68]

 
Then your view was different to the judges, the pundits, the ex-fighters, the celebs and just about anyone else who commented on the fight.
 
Let's hope Brook does better than last time.

No you are 100 percent wrong all pundits and commentators had Joshua behind by 1 or 2 points I thought wladimir won the second. After the 5th round knock down Joshua never won a second of the next 5 rounds and yes I have been boxing since the age of 11 too old to fight now but still train 3 times a week.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Baerboxer]

3 minutes ago, Hutch68 said:

No you are 100 percent wrong all pundits and commentators had Joshua behind by 1 or 2 points I thought wladimir won the second. After the 5th round knock down Joshua never won a second of the next 5 rounds and yes I have been boxing since the age of 11 too old to fight now but still train 3 times a week.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

Not the one's I read. Most were concentrating on congratulating Joshua and saying he answered questions about his ability to recover and perform in latter stages. Even the bit I read that Lewis posted, whilst suggesting other fighters would take note of vulnerabilities shown by Joshua, didn't say he thought Klitschko deserved to win or was especially unlucky.

 

If you've boxed for that long you should know there isn't much luck involved in any sport - as the Palmer the golfer said - the more I train, the harder I work the luckier I get. 

 

At the end of the day, it's the judges score cards that count if necessary. And in this case, they weren't necessary.

[Hutch68]

 
Not the one's I read. Most were concentrating on congratulating Joshua and saying he answered questions about his ability to recover and perform in latter stages. Even the bit I read that Lewis posted, whilst suggesting other fighters would take note of vulnerabilities shown by Joshua, didn't say he thought Klitschko deserved to win or was especially unlucky.
 
If you've boxed for that long you should know there isn't much luck involved in any sport - as the Palmer the golfer said - the more I train, the harder I work the luckier I get. 
 
At the end of the day, it's the judges score cards that count if necessary. And in this case, they weren't necessary.

Well the only people that disagree with me seem to be the people on this forum even Joshua's corner thought he was behind going into the 11th.
Everyone's different so let's just agree to disagree.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app