HE CAME, HE saw he conquered. Now world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua wants a piece of Tyson Fury after knocking out Wladimir Klitschko.
It was a fight for the ages as British star Joshua defeated veteran Klitschko in front of a 90,000-capacity crowd at Wembley on Saturday.
Joshua – who preserved his perfect professional record with a 19th successive win – climbed off the canvas having been floored for the first time in his career to end the titanic heavyweight battle in the 11th and penultimate round in London.
The 27-year-old added the WBA ‘super’ belt to his IBF title and post-fight, he warned the heavyweight division there is still room for improvement.
“This is boxing. I’m only going to improve,” Joshua told Sky Sports Box Office. ”Sometimes you can be a phenomenal boxer but this sport is about character. When you go to the trenches, that’s when you find out who you really are.
“In this small little ring there’s nowhere to hide. As I said from the get-go, it will be a boxing classic and the best man will win. There’s no complications with boxing – anyone can do this.
“I came out and I won – that’s how far I had to dig. I didn’t go into a 12-round slug-fest and struggle to beat Klitschko. I came back and fought my heart out.”
Joshua heaped praise on 41-year-old Ukrainian, who survived a fifth-round knockdown to drop his younger opponent heavily in the sixth.
“As boxing states, you leave your ego at the door and respect your opponent, so a massive shout-out to Wladimir Klitschko for taking part,” Joshua added. ”I’m not going to say too much in case he wants to come back and fight me again, but in terms of the boxing Hall of Fame and the boxing arena, he’s a role model in and out of the ring.
“I’ve got nothing but love and respect for anyone who steps inside the ring. I’m a little bit emotional now because I know I’ve got doubters who think I can’t do this and I can’t do that. But I dig deep.”
As for a potential all-English bout with Fury, Joshua asked the crowd: “Is that what you want to see? I enjoy fighting. I love fighting. Tyson Fury, I know he’s talking a lot and wants to come back and compete.
“I want to give 90,000 people another chance to witness another night of boxing. But I just want to fight everyone – I’m really enjoying this right now.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
What a waste of time. But im sure louth will have enjoyed the big day out in croke park eh
@Brian Dunne: The three provincial finals so far have been awful, hopefully Ulster is a bit better.
@Bert Carolan: Time to scrap them and run all-Ireland competitions a few weeks after the league end.
@Brian Dunne: ah now Brain nod say there’s a few of your i20’s lads would love a crack at Dublin for a Leinster title
@mainmsam: *id say
Gaelic football is a game that’s gone down the drain,between calling for a ‘mark’,handpassing,scoring by hand it’s just terrible to watch.not to take anything away from Dublin winning today,best of luck to them. I seen a few minutes of the game today and switched it off,I haven’t watched a game of Gaelic in years and won’t be watching anytime soon either.as a youngster watching on in the 80’s and 90’s it was a completely different game.can anything be done to save the game ?
@Jb Walshe: Yawn. Already been some brilliant games this year. That game was very 80s/90s esque as well. Stick to the hurling good man
@Jb Walshe: As you don’t watch gaelic football you probably didn’t watch the Ulster final today
Could have put those games on gaa go. See if anyone would watch them outside the 6 counties that played in those finals
What a competition
Utterly pointless game
Bit of silverware is a bit of silverware love to see it
Do people actually watch this?
@Donie Nagle: yes, probably a dub thing
@Donie Nagle: Yes
Them bloody Dubs are at it again…
Sam is homesick
Split Dublin in two
@KY22: and have an all Dublin Leinster final??
Louth goalkeeper was quoted by RTE commentator that he sees himself as outfield player first and a goalkeeper second well by golly that showed today. If your tge actual goalkeeper and perform like that you deserve everything you get. Maybe stick to been a keeper and you might actually be able to save something.
Levels.
Dublin will most likely reach an All Ireland quarter final and only have played one ( Roscommon) Division One team. I can see Dessie Farrell’s point, especially if Dublin come up against a more hardened team who have played competitive games.
I believe in a few years we will have the Provincial Championships in February before the League starts. They will become what the O’Byrne and McKenna Cups are now.
Also, the lopsided nature of Provincial Championships doesn’t allow the new format for the All Ireland series to be a true reflection of the top sixteen teams in the country.
@Gerry Thompson: no, they are too important to too many counties. Try telling Sligo, Clare, Louth or Armagh that they should be downgraded. Try telling Limerick from last year, tipp from a couple of years ago, Cavan etc. Even Roscommon, Meath, Derry, Monaghan, it’s their All Ireland ATM. It’s worth winning and more important than league or Tailteann Cup. Dublin and Kerry dominating their province is a necessary evil unfortunately but when someone does beat them in the Leinster final it will be huge for that county.
Time to put the Leinster and Munster football championships out to pasture. There hasn’t been a Connacht Hurling Championship since the mid 90s for the same reason. Dublin & Kerry pummelling all round them is a futile exercise.
@Colm: Tipp won Munster in 2020…..