British heavyweight boxing star Joshua knocks out Klitschko

Anthony Joshua wasn’t wrong when he raised his hands in victory after knocking Wladimir Klitschko down in the fifth round of what looked like a one-sided heavyweight title fight.

After prolonged introductions, where Joshua stood on an airborne platform before his flaming initials and his adoring public, Klitschko – a challenger for the first time since 2006 – immediately sought centre-ring and popped out some left leads.

After the fight, Joshua called out Tyson Fury.

Tyson Fury beat Wladimir Klitschko but has since relinquished his titles to focus on his mental health. Good fight, You had life and death with Klitschko and I played with the guy. I enjoy fighting. I love fighting.

“I’m not going to say too much, in terms of the boxing hall of fame, [Klitschko’s] a role model in and out of the ring”, he added.

Arnold Schwarzenegger highly appreciated the boxing show, on his Twitter he congratulated Joshua and expressed the hope for a rematch.

Anthony Joshua is not afraid of anyone.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn revealed the heavyweight next plans to fight towards the year’s end. “I will fight Tyson Fury“, Joshua said in his postfight match with HBO’s Max Kellerman. “So a massive shout out to Wladimir Klitschko“, said Joshua.

Joshua charged out with a ferocious onslaught in the fifth that sent Klitschko to the canvas, but the experienced former champion recovered well and it was the British fighter who ended the round gasping for air.

“He’d looked like he’d nearly run out of ideas and he was done and just somehow found something from within to come back and knock out Wladimir Klitschko“.

But Joshua refused to be beaten, regained his bearings and justified his pre-fight status as betting favourite by putting his Ukrainian opponent to the sword in the eleventh round.

If Joshua vs Klitschko this weekend was one of the biggest fights in years, just imagine how big Joshua vs Fury will be if it happens.

The 28-year-old has won all 25 of his professional fights so far, 18 by knockout.

Joshua had never been beyond seven rounds, and it looked like he might be running out of gas as he tried to find his legs following the knockdown in the sixth.

Joshua had tipped the scales at 17 stone, 12 pounds 2 ounces (113.4 kilograms) -10 pounds more than Klitschko and his heaviest ever pre-fight weight – at Friday’s weigh-in.

“I thought he would not get up”, said Klitschko. “Anthony Joshua came of age”, Froch told Sky Sports.

“I could have done more to finish him off after he went down, but I was pretty sure “This is going to be my night” so I took my time”.