IBF world heayweight champion, Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko went head to head after Joshua’s successful world title defence against Eric Molina on Saturday night for all to see ahead of their mega match that has been confirmed to be taking place on April 29th at Wembley stadium in London. The IBF and vacant WBA heavyweight title will be on the line.
Joshua blasted out Molina inside 3 rounds while Ukrainian Klitschko was ringside. Tyson Fury also witnessed the destruction but showed no signs of returning to the ring any time soon if his physical condition is anything to go by. Eddie Hearn held a blockbuster event in 2014 when Carl Froch faced George Groves in their return match in front of 80,000 fans, a statistic that has since become synonymous with Froch who famously told Floyd Mayweather Jr that he “boxed George Groves in front of 80,000 fans.” The British promoter will no doubt be looking to top that figure when the two titans go at it next year. But just who is this fight right for the most?
Joshua captured the IBF crown in his 16th fight and has just had his 18th while Klitschko has had 68 fights, winning 64 with 53 coming by way of a knockout. Joshua has stopped all of his opponents to date. But the numbers prove that Klitschko definitely has much more experience while Joshua has yet to have an off night. The Olympian has not gone past the 7th round, so his stamina is still in question. However, he has stopped two opponents in the 7th round which may suggest that he does carry power at least into the second half of his fights. Klitschko has proven his definitely does.
Both boxers have a height of 6 foot, 6 inches while the Brit has a 1 inch reach advantage. But Klitschko is now at the age of 40 and will turn 41 years old in March. Will he show signs of decline? He couldn’t really get off against Fury but that was perhaps more to do with strategy than declining attributes. Fury would not allow Klitschko to do his usual “punch and hold” tactic and used the ring to his advantage to keep out of range. But Anthony Joshua has a completely different style and has not been involved in bouts that have forced him to change strategy as of yet. He has been allowed to remain well in his comfort zone in order to use his shattering power on his unfortunate victims while walking forward and breaking them down.
Klitschko is usually up on his toes, jabbing and landing the occasional big right hand while zapping his opponent’s strength and frustrating them with his clinching. Trainer Robert McCracken will need to work hard to alter Anthony Joshua’s mindset because he probably won’t be able to do what he has been doing in his last 18 bouts!
Due to Klitschko’s advancing age, is it a possibility that he will “get old” over night and simply crumble under the type of fistic pressure that the current champion will bring? His boxing style does not rely on reflexes in his defensive technique but his patient approach does. The scenario that he will wilt in the later rounds certainly is a possibility.
Wladimir hasn’t taken many harsh beatings in his career although his defeat to Tyson Fury last year was somewhat bruising for him. The last knockout defeat he suffered was in 2004 to Lamon Brewster although he did have to rise up off the canvas against Samuel Peter in 2005. Ever since then, the waters have remained pretty calm and Wladimir Klitschko has not been involved in much of anything that has been too taxing.
But “out with the old and in with the new” springs to mind. It is expected here that Anthony Joshua will put in his best performance yet on April 29th, 2017 and stop Klitschko somewhere around the 8th if he does not fall for the usual tactics that will surely come his way. But it is a pretty big if, and it may well turn out to be a situation where power goes against experience. And one can never count out experience in boxing!
If and when David Haye comes through Tony Bellew in March, perhaps a Joshua v Haye bout can be arranged for somewhat soon afterwards in what would inevitably be another thunderous and menacing battle for either heavyweight boxer.
