Wladimir Klitschko is relieved to be facing an opponent who won’t attempt to get under his skin.
Klitschko will fight Anthony Joshua at Wembley on April 29, with the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight titles up for grabs.
The pair have been very respectful of each other in the build-up to the fight, and in a way it makes perfect sense.
Klitschko has been the dominant heavyweight of his generation, and Joshua is undefeated. It could be a career defining fight for both, in front of over 90,000 at Wembley, and thousands watching at home.
There’s really no need to hype the bout any further, and Klitschko has said that the reluctance of either man to engage in mind games or verbal sparring will benefit both fighters.
The Ukrainian, who will be 41 when he steps into the ring in April, has said that such antics backfire, and end up draining the fighter, rather than his opponent. That’s why you won’t see him attempting them with Joshua.
“It’s great for boxing that this event is going to be promoted the way it is; without any abuse, verbal, physical or any other shape of it,” Klitschko said.
“I heard that many times from David Haye and Tyson Fury. I just recently heard it at the New York press conference from Anthony, that it’s all about a mental game.
“But I’m not playing games. I’m serious with what I’m doing. There are no mental games from me.
“Maybe it is something you can use in a way but it is not going to work on my skin; it is too thick. Eventually people get under their (own) skin, which happened in the case of David Haye and unfortunately for Tyson Fury.
“That’s why I don’t play these games and I am straightforward. People trying to get under my skin are concentrating on the wrong things, mind games, and are getting themselves twisted in their own mind.”
Klitschko has experience of other boxers trying to get under his skin.
When his older brother fought Dereck Chisora, he was in the ring beforehand and this happened:
While promoting his rematch against Tyson Fury, which never came to fruition, this happened:
And, before their fight in 2011, David Haye repeatedly goaded Klitschko.
However, the Ukrainian had the last laugh after he won the bout by unanimous decision and made this video taunting Haye.
Catch up with this week’s episode of 888sport Football Friday Live
