Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko: 5 keys to the fight

Klitschko’s right hand

When Wladimir Klitschko switched trainers and began to work with legendary tactician and motivator Emanuel Steward, he learned how control fights with his sledgehammer left jab. Despite being cautious and judicious with his power punch output, Klitschko has always been able to ice foes with perfectly timed right crosses — a calling card punch that he occasionally supplements with a brutal left hook.

In his upset loss to Tyson Fury, however, Klitschko was both utterly devoid of ideas and the ability to pull the proverbial trigger. Klitschko’s right hand remained holstered for nearly the entire fight, and one has to wonder whether he’ll be able to commit to this punch with the threat of far more explosive return fire coming from Anthony Joshua.

Joshua-Klitschko could very well come down to the former champion’s ability to throw and land his right hand from a couple of standpoints: without the punch operating effectively, Klitschko stands no chance of winning; moreover, the mere threat of Klitschko’s right cross, if he proves he can throw it with conviction early (whether it lands or not), will help handcuff Joshua, who possesses important advantages in speed and athleticism.

Make no mistake, if Wladimir Klitschko detonates a right hand against Anthony Joshua’s jaw, he can knock the Brit out with a single punch. And given Klitschko’s advanced ring IQ, he can use his right cross as a decoy to freeze Joshua, keep him off balance and set up his left hook. The point is that Klitschko’s right hand must be active; if it isn’t, his fate will be far worse than what he suffered against Fury.