There is only one venue that boxing fans will be interested in this weekend and that is Wembley Stadium.
Anthony Joshua fights Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and IBO heavyweight titles with the WBA super heavyweight crown also on the line.
Joshua, the younger man by 14 years, is defending a 18-0 record as a professional and has dealt with all that has been put before him with aplomb. His comparative lack of experience as compared to his opponent is startling but should prove immaterial in this clash of eras if AJ boxes to his full potential.
The 27-year-old has stopped every single one of his opponents so far. Dillian Whyte and Dominic Breazeale did manage to postpone the inevitable until the seventh round but are the only two to have so far taken Joshua beyond the third round of a contest and one has to question whether Klitschko, a great champion in his time, still has the drive, power and energy to go toe-to-toe with a heavyweight that many pundits think hits harder than any man since Mike Tyson.
Klitschko was beaten for the time in 10 years by Tyson Fury at the end of 2015 and hasn’t fought since – a rematch being cancelled last year. But there was a hint that his powers may be on the wane in an earlier defence against Bryant Jennings, when the Ukrainian was forced to do all of his work inside against a fitter and more mobile opponent. The 41-year-old can not afford to trade blows with Joshua, who is younger, quicker and packs a bigger punch. He may have only lost four of his 64 fights but you can get 9/4 with Bet365 that the older man triumphs in front of a packed Wembley this Saturday and he is 7/1 to take the fight a full distance and win by a Decision or Technical Decision.
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I just can not see this fight going the full 12 rounds. Joshua has the utmost respect for Klitschko and the former champion, likewise, has praised AJ in the past. But that won’t mean that the Briton will be pulling his punches. Dr Steelhammer will be in an unfamiliar role of underdog but being on Joshua’s home turf won’t faze Klitschko. However, I can see the younger man ending this long before the closing rounds with Betfair‘s 4/5 for the home fighter to win by KO, TKO or Disqualification looking the value.
