We somehow doubt it says: “11th round TKO defeat.”
Not one to announce a pre-fight prediction in the inimitable style of Conor McGregor, Wladimir Klitschko took an interesting approach to forecasting his April clash with Anthony Joshua.
Prior to the monster heavyweight showdown of the division’s past and future, Klitschko made a prediction but he didn’t make it public. Instead, the Ukrainian legend recorded how he felt the fight would play out on a USB stick and had it sewn into the robe that he wore to the ring in Wembley.
“I’m not Nostradamus but I recorded a video of my prediction of the fight. This stick is going to be in my robe which I’m going to wear on Saturday night,” Klitschko said in his final press conference ahead of the fight.
“Do not ask me after the fight what is on the stick. The only person who is going to be able to open it up and watch it is the person who is going to buy the robe with the stick. The money will go to the Klitschko foundation.”
We all know now that Klitschko was stopped in the 11th round by ‘AJ’ in one of the best fights of the year and while we somehow doubt that he had been so pessimistic to have anticipated a defeat, he’s stayed true to his word and auctioned the robe off for charity.
£160K=$215K were raised in London at #TheCharge2 by auctioning this robe (incl my prediction on a USB stick) that I was wearing at my very last boxing match vs @anthonyfjoshua @wembleystadium. All funds will go to #KlitschkoFoundation projects. Thank you guys!🙏 #soliver pic.twitter.com/wU8W8MINrw
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) December 14, 2017
On Thursday morning, now-retired Klitschko revealed that he’d raised £160,000 for the great cause at an event at London’s Royal Horticultural Society Halls.
The buyer of the robe is unknown.
