Anthony Joshua Defeats Wladimir Klitschko in Thrilling Match
Published April 30, 2017 by Florin P
Anthony Joshua knocks out Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd to win the WBA world heavyweight title.
The most anticipated boxing match of the year pitted Anthony Joshua against Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium. 90,000 enthusiastic fans watched the match live at the national stadium, a new record for the postwar era. Anthony Joshua was credited with the first chance by pundits and bookmakers alike and he confirmed his favorite status. In what was arguably the best performance of his career, he outplayed one of the heavyweight legends.
41-year-old Wladimir Klitschko put up an amazing fight and brilliantly rebounded after being dropped in the fifth round. He fought back and sent his opponent to the ground one round later, but bowed out of the competition five bouts later. Joshua produced a flurry of clinical blows in the 11th round, culminating with what The Sun described as one of "boxing's greatest ever punches". The local favorite landed a brutal uppercut and the stunning blow was good enough to wrap up a memorable victory.
The Beginning of the End for Klitschko?
The Ukrainian lost two of his titles back in 2015 when he was defeated by Tyson Fury. That’s why bookmakers credited him with the second chance ahead of this fixture. Klitschko was given odds of 2/1, compared to 1/2 for Anthony Joshua. Those who chose to bet on the underdog were surely impressed to see that Wladimir still had the heart that made him famous worldwide. After both athletes were sent to the floor once, the pace dropped and few anticipated the grand finale.
The powerful uppercut in the 11th round electrified Wembley Stadium and with this memorable punch, Anthony Joshua unified his titles. Across the Atlantic Ocean, millions watched the match which was televised by two networks, for the third time in history. The future looks bright for boxing fans, as Klitschko still has three fights left on his contract with German broadcaster RTL. Meanwhile, a new super star was born and Anthony Joshua is ready to defend his WBA world heavyweight title.
