Anthony Joshua came into his fight with former longtime heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko as the owner of a belt, but with so many questions about how good he really was because he had such an easy road to the title.
England’s Joshua had faced 18 relatively nonthreatening opponents and knocked them all out inside seven rounds, but how would he fare against a legitimate opponent? And not just any legitimate opponent.
Here he was facing Ukraine’s Klitschko, a fellow Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist and an all-time great former champion just one fight removed from his title reign. Klitschko had ruled the division for a decade and was participating in his 29th heavyweight title fight, more than anyone else who ever lived.
But there were also serious questions surrounding Klitschko, 13 years older than Joshua and fighting for the first time since losing his three major belts to Tyson Fury 17 months earlier in a not forgettable slumber in which both guys looked awful. Did Klitschko’s desultory performance mean he was done? How would the longest layoff of his career affect him?
Joshua and Klitschko came together for Joshua’s title, as well as for a vacant belt, in one of the most anticipated heavyweight title fights in years on April 29 in the ultimate matchup of young star vs. aging star. But even before a punch was thrown, the fight had captured the imagination of the boxing public in the United Kingdom and around the world — it was televised by both Showtime and HBO in the United States.
And then Joshua and Klitschko delivered big-time, putting on an all-time classic that won’t soon be forgotten. Their breathtaking battle will go down as one of the best heavyweight title fights in history and was the slam-dunk pick for 2017 ESPN.com fight of the year.
It had everything: high stakes, two-way action, knockdowns, massive momentum swings, blood, heart and copious amounts of drama, all set to the spectacular backdrop of London’s Wembley Stadium filled with a British boxing record crowd of 90,000, making for an incredible big-fight atmosphere.
The first four rounds were good, but the fight took off in the fifth round when Joshua put his punches together for a knockdown earlier on and cut Klitschko over the left eye. Klitschko looked about done but mounted a furious comeback unlike any in his career. He went for broke, and, by the time the 2017 ESPN.com round of the year was over, Klitschko was in command and had Joshua in huge trouble and reeling.
Klitschko, 41, continued to walk Joshua over in the sixth round and dropped the 27-year-old for the first time in his career with a stiff right hand down the middle.
“If Joshua makes it through [the round], this fight goes from excellent to epic,” HBO analyst Max Kellerman exclaimed.
Joshua and Klitschko continued to trade bombs in a gripping bout, one that appeared to be slipping away from Joshua, whose early lead was eroding. But in the 11th round, he got his mojo back. He ripped Klitschko with a brutal right uppercut that led to a knockdown, then dropped him again with another onslaught moments later before stopping him.
Klitschko, who had been disrespected by so many over the years for his sometimes clinical and boring fights, erased all of that with his grand performance as he showed the heart of a lion to continue fighting with abandon. But young Joshua was also fighting hard and finally cornered Klitschko. As he was unloading punches referee, David Field stepped in at 2 minutes, 25 seconds.
“That was a great heavyweight championship fight,” Kellerman roared as the fight was halted.
Lampley responded: “Spectacular fight. The best fight at the summit of the heavyweight division in as long as we can remember, maybe since Lennox Lewis vs. older brother Vitali Klitschko [in 2003].”
The fight elevated Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko as they had their mettle tested like never before, and fans got a heavyweight title fight for the ages.
Murray advised to adapt after hip injury
Andy Murray may need to adapt his game in his recovery from a long-term hip injury, according to his former coach Miles Maclagan.
The 30-year-old has withdrawn from the Brisbane International and says he may have to consider surgery.
Maclagan describes the situation as “concerning” but says the world number 16 can come back a different player.
“If he can get fit, it might force him to play a different sort of game, with shorter rallies,” Maclagan said.
“That could be very exciting, [but] he’s got a tough road back.
“The characteristic of these great players is that when they’ve had a setback they often come back stronger, reinvigorated in the mind. He said he was tired, so could come back with a fresh mentality.”
Maclagan spent three years as part of Murray’s coaching team and says that his fellow Scot’s situation would be worse if he did not have surgery as a back-up option.
Murray has been trying to overcome the long-standing problem through rest and rehabilitation, having not played competitively since his defence of the Wimbledon singles title ended in a five-set defeat by Sam Querrey in July.
