Wladimir Klitschko to Anthony Joshua: ‘When you lose I will help you come back’

Wladimir Klitschko

DOES Wladimir Klitschko need to take the Anthony Joshua fight? Heโ€™s had a well-remunerated and hugely successful career, ruling the heavyweight division for 10 years. Tyson Fury befuddled him to seize his titles and now the Ukrainian, a venerable 41 years old, has been out of action for well over a year. Not the ideal run in to taking on the power-punching rising star of the sport, Anthony Joshua.

But, appearing on Skyโ€™s โ€˜The Gloves are Offโ€™ programme Klitschko gave every indication of relishing challenging the British hero and IBF titlist in a packed Wembley stadium on April 29.

โ€œIf the loss against Fury hadnโ€™t happened, I wouldnโ€™t be here. He wouldnโ€™t be champion,โ€ Klitschko shrugged. โ€œWe will see on the 29th the truth, what works and doesnโ€™tโ€ฆ History and momentum are advising us to take this challenge because otherwise it could be too late.

โ€œItโ€™s amazing to watch for the fans. This is once in a lifetime, to watch two Olympic champions fight each other.โ€

Klitschko is adamant his โ€œpractical experienceโ€ will make the difference. He believes he has been in a similar situation, citing his first fight with Sam Peter as an example. โ€œIโ€™ve been fighting guys that had a great record of knockouts, the Samuel Peter fight, he was totally hyped up as the next champion. I was dead man walking, thatโ€™s literally what I was called,โ€ Klitschko said. โ€œI was on the floor multiple times during this fight and nobody thought this was going the distance. So you never know.โ€

But that was a long time ago. โ€œIโ€™m totally away of all the jeopardy and danger and all of this,โ€ he acknowledged. โ€œItโ€™s an absolute extravaganzaโ€ฆ Iโ€™m just happy about it so you should be too.โ€

He expects to enter the stadium to boos, but hopes to leave to cheers. โ€œIn sport thereโ€™s only one language โ€“ your performance,โ€ he declared.

Addressing Joshua directly, he said, โ€œIf you win I will congratulate you. When you lose I will help you to come back.โ€

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