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

Klitschko’s experience vs. Joshua’s crowd support

The gulf in experience between Wladimir Klitschko and Anthony Joshua is startling: 68 pro fights compared to 18; 53 stoppages to 18; 358 rounds boxed for Klitschko and only 44 for Joshua, whose amateur career, despite an Olympic gold medal, also fails to match Klitschko’s in scope; and a 25-3 record in world title fights for Klitschko, whereas Joshua is only 3-0 in such matches against limited opposition.

These numbers matter. While it’s tempting to pick Joshua by devastating, early knockout behind the argument that his athleticism, power and youth are simply too much for Klitschko to overcome at this point, the stark reality is that Klitschko is by far (this cannot be stressed enough) the most experienced and dangerous foe Joshua has faced. Based on the eye test, Joshua should be fine, but it’s impossible to predict exactly how he’ll fare in a fight of this magnitude and against an opponent of Klitschko’s caliber.

And yet, despite Klitschko’s practically unmatched experience amongst active fighters at any weight, 90,000 rabid fans spurring Joshua towards victory cannot be discounted. A hostile environment is one thing, but the crowd at Wembley Stadium will be literally unlike anything either Joshua or Klitschko has experienced. Every Joshua punch will be cheered, and if he can avoid succumbing to the pressure, this should prove to be a crucial early advantage that will help him settle into the fight.

Part of Joshua’s inexperience is that he’s still unblemished. Other than wobbling against the aforementioned Dillian Whyte, Joshua has been punch-perfect as a pro. Klitschko, on the other hand, has risen from the canvas, been knocked out and written off on multiple occasions. Ironically, this could prove advantageous. Sure, Klitschko can seem vulnerable, but don’t mistake that for a lack of toughness or ring intelligence. If Joshua gets clipped and dropped, he’ll be in uncharted territory, whereas Klitschko could conceivable fight his way back into a contest he’s losing.

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The bottom line is that the margin for error in Joshua-Klitschko is so slim that it’s a legitimate must-watch fight. It could be a passing of the torch, as many anticipate, or an incredible capstone on the career of an aging former champion. Either way, Joshua-Klitschko is likely to kick off a bold new era of heavyweight boxing.