WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO came face-to-face with Anthony Joshua in New York on Tuesday for a press conference ahead of their April 29 IBF and WBA heavyweight title unification clash atย Wembley stadium.
Klitschko may be a 40 year old veteran, but he carries a charming menace. He was complimentary of Joshuaโs abilities, while still suggesting they would โdemolishโ one another.
โThereโs no mind games,โ Wladimir insisted. โI think itโs the perfect time for both of us. In three years heโs going to be too good. And Iโm going to be too old, maybe. But this is the time and we just got it at the right time. Itโs definitely a signature fight for boxing.
“Weโll demolish each other in the ring afterwards but weโre respectful to each other, respectful to the sport and to the fans and you know what, it pays off. Because thatโs going to polish this amazing sweet science.โ
โIโm still around. Itโs amazing,โ the old champion continued. โIโve fought in front of 30, 40, 50 and 60,000 but never in front of 90,000 people. Thatโs my biggest arena. This is going to be my biggest fight.โ
He assailed Joshua with a barrage of praise, while throughout implying that Joshua, his junior, was following the track Klitschko had already laid out. โFighting a man that I was, am and will be a fan of. Since I watched Anthony Joshua winning the Olympic gold in 2012, I was right there in the arena and it was amazing to watch someone following in your footsteps. We had plenty of rounds in sparring sessions in 2014, he was my sparring partner for my fight against Kubrat Pulev. I believe this man has a lot of skills. As Eddie [Hearn] said, heโs going to be the biggest star in boxing, maybe yes, maybe not. I heard you also made plans to fight Wilder past me, or other opponents. I understand the plans. I understand the ambitions. Itโs good to be young and ambitious. In this case Iโm talking both about Anthony and about Eddie and I believe that this fight is magnetising,โ Klitschko said. โIโm looking forward to this challenge. I have my goal โ to become three-time world champion. My motivation is high as the sky.โ
โI am, and I repeat it one more time, this word, obsessed with my goal. To become three time world champion,โ he concluded. โI know how serious my opposition is and Iโm happy.โ