Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko result: Joshua defeats Klitschko via TKO in round 11
By Peter Kahn
Anthony Joshua comes off the canvas to defeat Wladimir Klitschko by TKO in the biggest event in British boxing history.
On Saturday night in London, Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19KOs) defeated Wladimir Klitschko (64-5, 53KOs) by technical knockout at 2:25 of Round 11 to retain his International Boxing Federation title and win the vacant World Boxing Association title at Wembley Stadium.
A vicious right uppercut by Joshua in the middle of the round sent the very game Klitschko spinning. From that point forward, Joshua remained in control and closed the show in championship style. Klitschko was knocked down by a left hook and one more time before the referee David Fields stopped the fight while Klitschko was absorbing a flurry of punches by Joshua in the corner. Despite his vast championship experience, Klitschko simply couldn’t recover, nor did he appear to complain about the stoppage.
This fight lived up to its billing. Klitschko, the 41-year-old two-time former heavyweight champion, gave Joshua all he can handle. After being knocked down in Round 5, Klitschko had Joshua in big trouble in Round 6, dropping him with a big right hand.
Previously, Joshua had never been past the seventh round. This fight was there for the taking by either fighter going into Round 11. The judge’s scorecards at the time of the stoppage were 96-93 Joshua (Don Trella), 95-93 Joshua (Nelson Vazquez) and 95-93 Klitschko (Steve Weisfeld).
After a slow start and feeling out process for the first four rounds, Joshua began Round 5 with a flurry, and the action never stopped from that point forward. Joshua sent Klitschko to the canvas in Round 5, but the Ukrainian worked his way back into the fight, sending Joshua crumbling to the canvas in Round 6 and seemed to be turning the tide. However, Joshua found his second wind and closed the show in Round 11.
I don’t think any of the pundits around the world saw this historical fight playing out like this during pre-fight analysis.
Immediately after the fight, Joshua said, “Well, what can I say. First and foremost 19 and 0, three and a half years in the game. I’m not perfect but I’m trying. If you don’t take part, you fail.”
Referring to Klitschko, Joshua continued, “He is a role model in and out for the ring and I’ve got huge respect and love for Wladimir Klitschko.
“This is boxing, I’m only going to improve. Boxing’s about character, and when you go to the trenches, that’s when you find out who you are.”
Klitschko said, “London, I hope you enjoyed the fight. The best man won tonight and it’s an amazing event for boxing. It’s really sad that I didn’t make it tonight. I was planning to do it, but it didn’t work.” Klitschko didn’t rule out the rematch in his contract simply saying, “First I have to work out what the heck happened here.”
Next: Check out FanSided.com's Joshua-Klitschko round by round scorecard
Regarding the future, Joshua immediately called out Tyson Fury while looking forward to what’s next. Many call this the changing of the guard in the heavyweight division with Joshua as the man to beat. Tonight, boxing was the big winner.