Anthony Joshua admits to “massive” disappointment over Klitschko’s decision to retire

Anthony Joshua admits to “massive” disappointment over Klitschko's decision to retire

Anthony Joshua wanted to do it again, and he hoped Wladimir Klitschko would, too. But, instead of taking the rematch he could have had with Joshua, 41 year old Klitschko decided instead to call it a career and retire from the ring.

The April fight the two giants gave us provided the heavyweight division with one massive buzz, the knockdown-filled Wembley fight full of action and switches in momentum. However, a sequel was not to be. AJ, now looking ahead to a mandatory title defence against Kubrat Pulev and then one against Luis Ortiz, admits he suffered “massive” disappointment over the news that Wladimir opted to call it quits instead of agreeing to rumble with him a second time.

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With Klitschko rematch now out, Anthony Joshua targets IBF mandatory defence against Kubrat Pulev

With Klitschko rematch now out, Anthony Joshua targets IBF mandatory defence against Kubrat Pulev

Thank goodness for a Plan-B. Now that former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko has retired, thus forever ending any talk of a rematch with Anthony Joshua, AJ is looking at his next fight. And Eddie Hearn, in speaking with Sky Sports, said a fight between AJ and his IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev is already in place.

Though glitzy Las Vegas is almost certainly out – Joshua-Pulev having nothing of the Big Fight factor to it that Joshua-Klitschko II had – it’s good that Joshua will not have to waste time searching for a replacement challenger.

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Joshua must “forget about Fury,” says heavyweight great Holyfield, “Fury really isn’t one of those big-name fights for him”

Joshua must “forget about Fury,” says heavyweight great Holyfield, “Fury really isn't one of those big-name fights for him”

Heavyweight legend and all time great Evander Holyfield managed to get himself all the big-name, mega fights he wanted during his fine career; and “The Real Deal” won most of them. Now, with future heavyweight star (or present heavyweight star, depending on your view) Anthony Joshua attempting to carve out his own greatness, Holyfield has given him a bit of advice.

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Showtime boss Espinoza says he expects Joshua-Klitschko II decision “pretty quickly”

Showtime boss Espinoza says he expects Joshua-Klitschko II decision “pretty quickly”

Anthony Joshua could be heading towards his US debut in his next fight. Promoter Eddie Hearn has been looking over potential venues in Las Vegas, with the T-Mobile Arena now the frontrunner to host the expected rematch between the reigning WBA/IBF heavyweight champ and former king Wladimir Klitschko (Klitschko has still to officially confirm that he will face AJ for a second time).

And Stephen Espinoza of Showtime says Joshua-Klitschko II “would be the biggest heavyweight Vegas fight in probably a couple of decades.” Joshua wants it, Hearn wants it and Espinoza wants it – now it just needs Klitschko’s signature on the contract to make the rematch happen in Vegas. At least this is how it seems.

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Vegas, Nigeria, London! Where should a Joshua-Klitschko rematch take place?

Vegas, Nigeria, London! Where should a Joshua-Klitschko rematch take place?

We are almost two-and-a-half months removed from the first fight between heavyweights Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko, yet we still don’t know if there will be a rematch, and if so where it will be held.

Okay, in today’s boxing world, where the big-name heavies fight on average twice a year, two-and-a-half months is not very long at all, but Klitschko did say, shortly after his exciting stoppage loss to Joshua, that he would make a decision on his future by the end of June. We are now approaching mid-July and we still don’t know if the 41 year old future Hall of Famer will box again.

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Hearn: Klitschko doesn’t want to return to the UK for Joshua rematch; if no return AJ will fight Pulev October 28

Hearn: Klitschko doesn't want to return to the UK for Joshua rematch; if no return AJ will fight Pulev October 28

According to Eddie Hearn, former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko does not wish to return to the UK for a rematch with Anthony Joshua. Klitschko, still to make up his mind on the rematch, officially at least, Wladimir wants the fight to take place “abroad,” Hearn told The Mirror; not in London or Cardiff.

Klitschko, Hearn says, wants the return fight to be “a big event,” and Las Vegas and Nigeria are the two frontrunners to land the sequel to the April 29 classic – if it goes ahead at all.

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