If
one were to take a poll of Boxing fans who ranged from the casual fan to the
die hard enthusiast on what is one aspect about the sport of Boxing that most
can universally agree on, you would probably get varying answers because of
course, the question in itself is general in nature and does not center around
a specific subject regarding the sport. One topic however, that usually draws
the interest of both the enthusiast as well as the casual fan is when a special
occasion is on the horizon. The type of occasion that epitomizes the “Big
Fight” atmosphere. Of all the “Big Fights” that take place in Boxing, one thing
most folks would say whether casual fan or enthusiast is there is nothing quite
like the anticipation that precedes a World Heavyweight championship fight.
A
discussion regarding two hard-hitting Heavyweights each with knockout power
entering the ring to do battle alone is enough to draw varying opinions as to
what may or may not happen when the two fighters square off. When the storyline
of the encounter centers on a former longtime champion, who lost his crown
returning to the ring after a lengthy absence to attempt to regain the
championship as well as his standing in the sport against a young unbeaten
“Knockout Artist”, it is certainly understandable how anticipation can only
increase as the days, weeks, and at times months prior to a showdown go on.
When a fight not only draws interest among each fighter’s respective fanbase,
but interest on a true global scale the ingredients of a special occasion are
present that more often than not turns a highly anticipated fight into an event.
When those ingredients include a legendary venue and a massive crowd of
spectators to witness the encounter, you have the very definition of the “Big
Fight” atmosphere.
On
April 29th, over 90,000 people packed the legendary Wembley Stadium
in London, England to witness such an event as undefeated “Knockout Artist”
Anthony Joshua made the third defense of his International Boxing Federation
(IBF) Heavyweight world championship against former longtime champion Wladimir
Klitschko. Prior to this encounter, this observer stated that this was a
classic scenario of youth versus experience. Although there were questions that
surrounded both fighters, I felt the focus would be on the former champion Klitschko
due in large part to his lackluster performance in losing his championship to
Tyson Fury in 2015 as well as his being inactive since that loss.
Of
course, some could make an argument that for a fighter who was as active as
Klitschko was at the height of his dominance over the Heavyweight division that
perhaps an extended hiatus would be appropriate to allow the fighter’s body
adequate time to recuperate from the riggers of training and other injuries
that can occur over the course of a long career. The counter argument however,
which has just as much validity is that as a fighter gets older, extended time
out of competition can actually do more harm than good due to the effects age
can have on one’s reflexes as well as reaction time, which are crucial in all
of sports, but especially with regard to combat sports.
It
surprised me to see Klitschko begin this fight coming forward working behind
his jab. Although this had not been uncommon for Klitschko throughout his
career, I felt strongly prior to this fight that he would elect to allow Joshua
to come forward and look to counter his normal aggression as the champion looked
to apply pressure. It was nevertheless an interesting tactic implemented by the
challenger from the outset. One thing that the champion did early on that I
felt was an effective strategy was Joshua focused part of his offense on
Klitschko's body, which has been something that some previous Klitschko
opponents have been unable to have consistent success in attempting against him
due to Klitschko usually having a height and reach advantage as well as his ability
to control distance with his jab and straight right hand. Even though the two
fighters were equal in height, it was an element of offense that was executed
well by the champion. What was also evident was that Joshua was not awed by the
occasion of fighting in a legendary venue such as Wembley Stadium and did not
appear pressured by the support of the massive crowd in attendance.
Although
both fighters were able to have their share of moments early on, it appeared as
though the champion had a slight edge due to landing the harder punches of the
two. Joshua was also able to withstand the Klitschko jab/right hand combination,
a focal point of Wladimir Klitschko's offense for many years in the early
rounds. Despite showing more aggression and more of a willingness to engage
than he had against Tyson Fury, Klitschko seemed to have some difficulty
landing power punches early due to Joshua choosing to box and not look for a
quick knockout.
What
was an exciting yet tactical battle in the early rounds however, would change as
the bout progressed. At the beginning of the fifth round, Joshua was able to
stun the former champion with a left hook to the jaw setting off a barrage of
offense, which opened a cut over Klitschko's left eye and resulted in him going
down on his knees to the canvas. Upon scoring the knockdown, an energetic
Joshua pressed forward looking for the stoppage, but under circumstances where
previous Joshua opponents were unable to recover and ultimately crumbled under
the power of the twenty-seven year old “Knockout Artist” Joshua, Klitschko
withstood the assault and by the end of the fifth round appeared to turn the
tide as Joshua looked to have punched himself out. Despite suffering some
knockout losses early in his career where some including this observer questioned
his ability to take a punch, Klitschko deserves much credit for his ability to
recover under such circumstances and it would be the challenger who would have
his say in round six.
It
would be at this stage in the fight where Klitschko would force Joshua to
answer a question that inevitably follows all fighters who are labeled
“Knockout Artists.” What happens to the fighter once they are hit flush and more
specifically, how will that fighter respond after being sent to the canvas?
Despite being the victim of a knockdown in the previous round and in serious
trouble for half of that round, Klitschko was able to take advantage of the
momentum he was able to build late in round five by dropping Joshua for the
first time in his career with a flush straight right hand to the jaw behind a
jab.
The
unbeaten champion was able to show that he was not only capable of getting up
from a knockdown, but also proved that he could withstand punishment as
Klitschko pressed forward and continued to find success in landing his right
hand. This fight clearly was one where some long sought answers to questions
surrounding both fighters were answered. Following his knockdown of the
champion in round six, Klitschko was able to dictate the combat by controlling
distance and generally seemed to get his punches off first and land more
effectively than Joshua in the second half of the fight and after ten rounds
this observer had the fight even on my scorecard.
In
round eleven however, the fight would come to a sudden and dramatic conclusion
in a fashion that most think of when
they think of the Heavyweight division at it’s best. As was the case in round
five, Joshua staggered Klitschko at the beginning of the round, but did not
pressure Klitschko as aggressively as he did in the fifth round likely due to
not wanting to risk being badly compromised by putting himself in a position
where he punched himself out and thus allowing his hurt challenger the
opportunity to recover. The champion instead took a more calculated approach
and staggered Klitschko badly with a devastating right uppercut to the chin
setting off a barrage of punches that sent the former champion down to the
canvas. Klitschko, showing his mettle arose from the knockdown only to be
dropped for a second time by a follow up barrage from Joshua. Klitschko again
was able to get up from the knockdown, but it was academic as Joshua pressed
forward and after landing a few more solid blows the bout was stopped.
It
was a thrilling encounter where both men proved something to their critics. For
Anthony Joshua, the third defense of his world championship also earned him the
World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organization (IBO)
Heavyweight world championships that were previously vacated by Tyson Fury
following his scheduled rematch with Klitschko never becoming a reality, but
more important in this eyes of this observer and any critic of Joshua before
this bout took place, he proved he belonged in the ring with a fighter who for
over a decade ruled over the Heavyweight division as it’s unified world
champion. Despite only having nineteen professional fights, Joshua showed not
only the ability to overcome adversity to win a fight and retain his
championship, but he did so by knocking out his opponent and proved he belongs
at the top of the division as one of three fighters who currently hold a claim
to the World Heavyweight championship along with the World Boxing Council (WBC)
world champion Deontay Wilder and the World Boxing Organization (WBO) world
champion Joseph Parker.
Although
he came out of this fight having suffered his second consecutive loss, an
argument can be made that Klitschko in this defeat may have finally earned his
just due from Boxing fans who simply did not appreciate his dominance and/or
Boxing style during his second reign as a Heavyweight world champion, much in
the same way as other dominant champions such as Larry Holmes and Evander
Holyfield received overdue recognition only after they lost their championships
and are now rightfully regarded as two of the greatest Heavyweights of
all-time. Klitschko was also able to show despite some setbacks early in his
career where he suffered knockouts where he was knocked down and was unable to
recover, that he could fight on and nearly was able to come back after the
first of what became three knockdowns to nearly end the fight himself by
knockout. The former champion also deserves praise, in my opinion for being
able to get up from an uppercut that would have ended the night for most
Heavyweights and valiantly try to fight on, Even though there were punches that
followed the crushing right uppercut from Joshua, there is no disputing that it
was that blow that led to Klitschko going down in the eleventh round in the
second of what became three overall knockdowns he suffered over the course of
the fight.
In
the near two weeks since Joshua-Klitschko took place I have had one question
running through my mind. How long will it be before there is a second encounter
between Joshua and Klitschko? It is after all a fair and logical question to
ask not only given the exciting combat these two fighters produced, but also
the overall success the fight generated in producing over one million
pay-per-view buys in the United Kingdom as well as over ten million viewers on
German television network RTL in addition to producing over a million combined
viewers here in the United States on both Showtime and HBO, who each produced
separate broadcasts of the event for the first time in history.
After
an encounter that exceeded every possible expectation both as an event as well
as what took place inside the ring in addition to the fact that there was a
rematch clause in the contract for this fight, it seems logical that a rematch
between the two take place. Given the interest that preceded what became a
classic encounter, this observer has no doubts that interest would be as high
or maybe greater in a potential rematch. Joshua-Klitschko was after all a “Big”
or “Super Fight” that did deliver. In an era where many of the sport’s “Big
Fights” have failed to live up to expectations leaving the ultimate authority,
the Boxing fan feeling at minimum disappointed and at worst cheated, why not
give Boxing fans an encore of what was a legitimate “Big Fight?”
“And
That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The
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