James Slater

Joshua-Klitschko battle brings greatness, and excitement, back to the heavyweight division

Joshua-Klitschko battle brings greatness, and excitement, back to the heavyweight division

What a great, dramatic and exciting fight heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko put on last night at Wembley. Going in, some fans worried we might see a clinch-fest, a wrestling match and a dull bore. Not a chance! Showing how childish trash-talk and the trading of insults is not in any way needed to produce a smashing fight full of venomous punching, trading and knockdowns, Joshua and Klitschko gave us the best world heavyweight title fight since Lennox Lewis went to war against Wladimir’s brother, Vitali.

That rumble from 2003 lacked a conclusive ending, but last night’s fight left no doubt. Joshua, now THE man atop the division, overcame a knockdown, serious fatigue and incredible pressure, as he bludgeoned Klitschko to 11th round defeat. Klitschko, showing class, had zero excuses, stating how “the better man won.” That he did, and we now know Joshua is for real.

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Manny Pacquiao says he knew ahead of time he would lose to Mayweather, get KO’d by Marquez

Manny Pacquiao says he knew ahead of time he would lose to Mayweather, get KO'd by Marquez

Great fighters from the past told tales of how they received a premonition ahead of a big upcoming fight through a dream – the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson, for example, revealed how, ahead of his tragic fight with Jimmy Doyle, he wanted to pull out of the fight because he had a vision of Doyle’s death – and Manny Pacquiao has done the same thing.

Speaking with The Telegraph, Pac Man said he knew he would lose to Floyd Mayweather and that he also knew he would be KO’d by Juan Manuel Marquez in their final fight. Manny says he received such information through pre-fight dreams

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Mike Tyson: Anthony Joshua reminds me of a young George Foreman; he is a beast

Mike Tyson: Anthony Joshua reminds me of a young George Foreman; he is a beast

You know it’s a big deal of a heavyweight fight if Mike Tyson is excited by it. And the former champ, the youngest belt-holder in boxing history at the age of just 20, is excited by tonight’s massive Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko clash. The biggest world heavyweight title fight in years, Klitschko-Joshua has captured the attention of just about everyone, “Iron” Mike included.

Speaking with Johnny Nelson of Sky Sports (who was, interestingly, set to fight Tyson in 2000, only for Tyson to fight another Brit in Julius Francis instead) Tyson said he thinks Joshua is a “beast,” who reminds him of the young George Foreman (Foreman of course being another fighter who was close to rumbling with Tyson – the “old” version of “Big” George).

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Kubrat Pulev eases past Kevin Johnson, aims for winner of tonight’s Joshua-Klitschko clash

Kubrat Pulev eases past Kevin Johnson, aims for winner of tonight's Joshua-Klitschko clash

In a heavyweight title fight that pretty much flew largely under the radar outside of the winner’s home country of Bulgaria, IBF NO.1 mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev won a fairly dull, lopsided 12 round unanimous decision over US veteran Kevin Johnson last night. The WBA inter-continental strap was on the line and Pulev, who is in line to face the winner of tonight’s huge Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko fight, retained this with a near shut-out.

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Klitschko-Joshua weigh-in: Joshua 250, his career heaviest, Klitschko 240 – AJ going for power, Klitschko going for speed?

Klitschko-Joshua weigh-in: Joshua 250, his career heaviest, Klitschko 240 – AJ going for power, Klitschko going for speed?

The weights are in for tomorrow night’s huge heavyweight title clash between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko, and both men look to be in absolutely fantastic physical condition. This of course is no surprise, but it might have come as a little bit of a surprise that Joshua tipped in at 250 pounds, the heaviest yet of his 18 fight pro career.

Some people felt Joshua, a real man-mountain, would weigh a little more than ex-champ Klitschko, who came in at a solid 240, but perhaps a few eyebrows were raised due to the fact that AJ weighed a full ten pounds heavier than Klitschko. Klitschko looks slim, svelte and trim; maybe the former king, who has said many times he is “obsessed” with regaining his belts, is planning on using speed, speed, speed tomorrow night.

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Deontay Wilder and Tony Bellew get into it at Joshua-Klitschko weigh-in!

Deontay Wilder and Tony Bellew get into it at Joshua-Klitschko weigh-in!

Tony Bellew is no stranger to an out of the ring altercation/slagging match/scuffle, and, truth be told, neither is Deontay Wilder. So it was perhaps inevitable that the two heavyweights (and, yes, Bellew has to be recognised as a legit heavyweight, having beaten former WBA champ David Haye) would get into some sort of argument when they came together at today’s Joshua-Klitschko weigh-in.

And, no, “Bomber” Bellew and “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder did not disappoint! As captured by the film cameras of iFLTV, the two engaged in a real war of words, with security, and a gate, separating them. Bellew seemed to take annoyance to Wilder’s familiar “Bomb Squad” chant, shouting back that “he [Wilder] ain’t no f*****g squad.”

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Pacquiao, Horn finally come face-to-face; Horn says: “I might knock him out in the first round”

Pacquiao, Horn finally come face-to-face; Horn says: “I might knock him out in the first round”

It took quite a while, a few months in fact; but Australian puncher Jeff Horn finally came face to face with superstar Manny Pacquiao yesterday (Australian time). The two met at the press conference to officially announce the July 2 fight that will see Pac Man defend his WBO welterweight title against the unbeaten, and much younger Horn.

The two had nothing but respect for one another, smiling as they faced off and posed for media photos. Trash talking is simply not Manny’s style, never has been, while Horn is more the quietly confident type. Pacquiao has told Horn to be “100 percent” on July 2, so the two of them can give the paying fans an exciting fight. This fight, one of, if not the biggest in Australian boxing history, will be explosive; so said promoter Bob Arum, who added how the American fans and writers are “warming to the fight.”

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Tyson Fury doesn’t believe there’s a heavyweight who can “lace my boots up;” vows to shed 100 pounds and return to glory

Tyson Fury doesn't believe there's a heavyweight who can “lace my boots up;” vows to shed 100 pounds and return to glory

Maybe it’s because of all the attention this Saturday’s Joshua-Klitschko fight is getting. Maybe it’s because the heavyweight division is as interesting as it’s been in quite a few years. Maybe it’s because he feels he’s the best heavyweight on the planet. Whatever it is, Tyson Fury has made his mind up: he still wants to be a fighter and he wants to regain his past glories.

Fury, out in Marbella training with good friend and reigning WBO middleweight champ Billy Joe Saunders, has vowed to shed around 100 pounds (he reportedly ballooned up to somewhere around the 360 pound mark during his 17-month inactive spell) and come back to rule the division again.

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Wladimir Klitschko is calling Anthony Joshua fight his “biggest challenge;” has no doubt he will win on Saturday

Wladimir Klitschko is calling Anthony Joshua fight his “biggest challenge;” has no doubt he will win on Saturday

Is former long-reigning heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko one fight away from retirement or is the 41 year old one fight and one win away from becoming a three-time king with a rejuvenated career?

There is simply everything on the line for Klitschko this Saturday night in London as he challenges IBF ruler Anthony Joshua (the WBA heavyweight belt to also be at stake) and perhaps this is why Wladimir is calling the fight his “biggest challenge.” Klitschko, 64-4(53) has faced some big hurdles throughout his long career (he seriously considered calling it a day after Lamon Brewster shocked him in that quite bizarre fight back in 2004) and he has beaten some quality fighters – does Klitschko really feel Joshua, an unproven quantity in many departments, is the biggest challenge of his career?

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