Anthony Joshua has offered some insight into how he managed to overcome Wladimir Klitschko in their epic heavyweight bout at Wembley Stadium.
Joshua recorded an 11th round stoppage over the Ukrainian in the best heavyweight fight in recent memory. The 27-year-old knocked Klitschko down in the fifth round and looked on course for victory.
You don't often see that from 'AJ' https://t.co/opQVoW3PHo
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 1, 2017
However, Klitschko managed to get back to his feet, take control of the bout and put Joshua on the canvas with a powerful shot in the next round.
Wladimir has a bazooka for a right hand. @Tyson_Fury shakes his head ? ✊ pic.twitter.com/QRsfDoPrSm
— Jay King (@Boxspose) April 30, 2017
Joshua got up from the first knockdown of his career and held on before completely overwhelming Klitschko in the 11th round.
Congrats to Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua who took out Wladimir Klitchsko last night.
19 fights
19 wins
19 KOspic.twitter.com/TrNme2IjiI— Facts About Africa (@OnlyAfricaFacts) April 30, 2017
Before unleashing an unstoppable flurry of punches in the penultimate round, Joshua had appeared to be tiring, with the 41-year-old Klitschko landing more shots.
However, following the fight, Joshua explained that he was merely biding his time, and regrouping before preparing to try put the Ukrainian away again the final rounds of the bout.
They were tactics that served him well.
AJ is up for the rematch https://t.co/DYF1NrxSE6
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) May 1, 2017
“I took a round off to get my breath back and then I said (to myself): “You’re in a bad place’,” Joshua told reporters.
“I tried to recover and then step it up in the later rounds – that was the plan.”
“I learned I can knock out anyone,” Joshua said when asked what he learned about himself during the fight.
“Sometimes you have to ride a few shots and take a few shots before pushing on for victory.”
Fury won't like this one bit https://t.co/9h1Dmzugof
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 1, 2017
Joshua also said  that the victory over his opponent, who dominated the heavyweight division for over a decade, will serve him well for the rest of his career.
And that it acted as a massive learning experience in his 19th professional bout.
“I had 44 rounds as a professional before that fight and now I feel like I have had 144 rounds of boxing.
“What I took from the fight is rounds upon rounds of experience and I can move forward now onto bigger and better things.”
