The Wembley Stadium in London, UK, IBF heavyweight champion Anthony “A.J.” Joshua, 19-0 (19), of the UK, came off the canvas in the sixth round after having Wladimir Klitschko, 64-5 (53), on the canvas in the fifth round to stop the former champion dropping him twice in the eleventh round to retain the IBF and win the vacant WBA titles. Referee David Fields came to the rescue of Klitschko. He should consider retirement and not honor a two fight deal he signed with Joshua prior to this fight. At 41 it’s time to call it a day.
The first three rounds were boring feeling out rounds with nothing more than jabs by both cautious boxers. In the fifth round Joshua came storming out and would drop Klitschko who suffered not only a knockdown but a minor cut on the left eyebrow. He got up and won the rest of the round that should have only had him losing 10-9.
In the sixth round Joshua looked tired spitting out his mouthpiece. Klitschko jumped on him dropping him with a straight right hand to the chin and a left hook to head as he was falling to the canvas. Klitschko failed to follow-up on this but had a 10-8 round. By the end of the ninth round Joshua seemed to have an edge 5-4 in rounds but the 10-8 round he was knocked down in would have the fight even.
The tenth round was close but Joshua may have won it. In the eleventh round Joshua landed a right uppercut hurting Klitschko dropping him to the canvas. In another flurry he dropped Klitschko a second time. As Joshua jumped on Klitschko having him defenseless against the ropes referee Fields wisely called a halt at 2:25 of the round. Joshua now wants former Klitschko conqueror and fellow UK former champion Tyson Fury who is planning a comeback in the next couple of months. In the meantime WBC champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder wants to meet WBO champion Joe Parker with the winner facing Joshua. It’s not like the days of Foreman, Frazier, Ali, Norton where those fighters were much more skilled but it is interesting in trying to unify the heavyweight title today.