It is, unquestionably, the heavyweight boxing clash of the year. It is Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko on Sunday, April 29th and this one has been a long time coming. Strangely, with quite a bit of vitriol usually being tossed around between competitors before such a big fight, this one is a little different. The two fighters have tremendous respect for each other and have actually been paying each other compliments ahead of the massive showdown. It has all been quite gentlemanly really in the build up to this one.
This is a career kind of moment of Joshua now, who has always had this urge to stay humble despite success. But if he goes out and beats arguably one of the greatest that the sport has ever seen, that will be a huge stepping stone towards him starting to pull in the kind of millions the likes of which have been exclusive to Floyd Mayweather’s career. But if Joshua is true to his mantra of staying humble, it’s about position and status in the sport, not money.
This is a stage on which he has to shine. Despite his own success in the sport, he is still a work in progress, but he is a big, bad fighter with a very natural, composed style. He’s not at the level of the elite that boxing has seen, but this can help him get there. He has the immense power of course and he is on an impressive run of eighteen straight knockouts since he turned professional three and a half years ago. The interesting thing about his run is that he really hasn’t been tested defensively. He hasn’t really been hit.
Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko Boxing Betting Odds
Anthony Joshua 4/11, Wladimir Klitschko 9/4
Joshua is improving and has plenty of time to do so, not like his 41-year-old opponent who has been at the top and doesn’t have anything left to prove to anyone. It is the savvy nous of Klitschko which will test Joshua on new levels. His opponent will be very difficult to hit and he will be constantly prodded at by the Ukrainians’ rock solid jab. Joshua is going to have to find the patience to find his way through the defence of his opponent. Joshua is 8/13 at Bet365 to win this by KO TKO or Disqualification, while at 11/2 on some kind of decision.
Joshua can pack a punch and he has never gone beyond seven rounds either in his professional career. He clearly has the advantage of youth, of speed in this bout and the timing is all on his side in this one. This is a strange fight for Klitschko, his first since being completely confused in a defeat to Tyson Fury 17 months ago. That’s a long time out of action and ultimately that raises the question of whether or not, if Joshua wins, will he have beaten a fighter in his prime? Will it give an accurate picture of how good Joshua is right now?
This is a shot for Joshua which has come after a strange 18 months in the sport. Tyson Fury was never supposed to beat Wladimir Klitschko. The rematch was never on between them and one of the fighters going for Fury’s vacant IBF belt got injured and plans changed. The door was suddenly open for Joshua, who had come through a brawl with Dillian Whyte, to get his shot at the big time. Is Joshua ready for this one against a man with nothing to prove but who will want to prove to the world that there is still no-one better.
Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Kilitschko Prediction
Klitschko is still passionate about the sport and in Joshua, he will have an opponent who will stand right in front of him. Joshua will get hit and he will get tested in this one. This is not about which is cut and dry at all and at the big price of 9/4 on Wladimir Klitschko, that’s a temptation to go for the experience in this one. He has the technique which can frustrate and annoy Joshua and he could take Joshua into unknown territory beyond seven rounds. Total rounds over 7.5 at Bet365 for this one at 4/5 has to be a bit of value.
