Wladimir Klitschko is remaining typically tight-lipped on his next career step but has, until recently, continued to show markings from his heavyweight war with Anthony Joshua.
All signs point in the direction of a rematch because, given Tyson Fury’s fitness issues and lack of a boxing licence, Joshua vs. Klitschko II is currently the biggest needle-mover in the heavyweight division.
Their first meeting, which took place at Wembley Stadium on April 29, saw ‘AJ’ rally from adversity to stop the Ukrainian veteran in the 11th round.
Running it back? https://t.co/QQXxoFWvfF
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) May 11, 2017
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has publicly announced that a second clash is the most likely next outing for the London 2012 gold medallist.
“I believe Klitschko will go ahead with the rematch so we are looking at dates,” Hearn said two weeks ago, with quotes appearing in the Independent.
“The Principality Stadium is not really available in November because of rugby so 28 October is the option. Most of December is available but I don’t really want to go that late.
“Josh has a bit of a sore shoulder, Klitschko has had a tough fight, his face was bashed up. You have got two more weeks in May, all of June and after that they will be thinking ‘right let’s get back in camp’.
“Even if you started back in camp in August, then you have September and October so end of October can work.”
Klitschko has kept a low profile since his defeat in London but popped up two weeks ago at a boxing gym in Los Angeles.
The 41-year-old walked through the door of L.A.’s Box ‘N Burn gym, apparently looking for training and reportedly sporting lingering effects of the fight.
The facility’s owner, Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries, is a regular contributor to online boxing outlet BoxingNewsOnline and he detailed his meeting with Klitschko during his latest piece for the site.
Was great to have former Heavyweight Champion of the World Wladimir @Klitschko in @BoxNBurn last night…Real nice guy! pic.twitter.com/gpLj2LJGg3
— Tony Jeffries OLY (@Tony_Jeffries) May 19, 2017
“He walked through the gym and all the members were there but he was nice and said hello to everyone,” Jeffries wrote. “He said he spends a lot of time out here in L.A.. He’d heard about the gym and just wanted to check it out.
“He still had a black eye off his Joshua fight.
“In L.A. the Joshua fight was massive. In my gym I’ve never known a fight get talked about so much apart from a Mayweather. It was massive, everyone was talking about it.
“Joshua’s massive over here. He’s kind of a household name in America, which is great. He seems to be bigger than Deontay Wilder. People don’t seem to know who Deontay Wilder is. They know who Anthony Joshua is.”
Klitschko spends a lot of time in Los Angeles due to the fact that his partner, Hollywood actress Hayden Panettiere, is based there.
In the aftermath of April’s Wembley showdown, Joshua claimed that he felt Panettiere would stand in the way of the rematch taking place.
