“I love boxing. I love its fans, its challenges and life chances so much. Klitschko vs Joshua 2 is on. I’ll see you at ringside” – that was the message Klitschko had saved in his drafts on Twitter. Klitschko speaking exclusively to IBTimes, Klitschko shared he was wrestling with his own emotions and thoughts as he contemplated the decision to either share that message or the tweet where he officially called time on his future hall-of-fame career.
“It was the most difficult decision,” Klitschko shared. “But I am so happy. You couldn’t know about it before [whether you will be happy with your decision], you know about it later on when your decision is made, a couple of months after whether it was right or wrong. I would say it was right. I did maybe an illogical thing. But I stepped out on my terms. Not any else’s. But my terms. I think my stock went up, not down. And I was surprised that was possible.” ‘Dr Steelhammer’ added.
Klitschko having time to reflect on his last stand in his titanic battle with Joshua and has shared he feels no ill will toward his former sparring partner. Instead, Wladimir said he hopes Joshua, now 20-0 with 20 knockouts, continues winning and finding more success. “I wish for him to win in any other fight that comes up because the more he wins, the more I shine. Because if I lose, I am going to lose to the best man, I just want to be proud of that. He is carrying the flag accordingly,” Klitschko said.
“If I were able to rewind time back and have influence over the decision, for example, if I knocked him out in the sixth round and won the titles back, it would have been nice for my ego. And my ego is big. It would be nice. But I would never change it. I am where I am right now and I have experienced what I have experienced because I have had a lot of success and just to know this other side where I can win by losing; I would pay any price for it.”
“Been there, done that” @Klitschko says he’s happy in retirement and @anthonyjoshua is “hands-down the world’s best heavyweight” #websummitpic.twitter.com/w5DybczdpO
— Ben Gallop (@BenGallop) November 7, 2017
“I think Joshua was born that night. He recouped, he recovered, and he fought back. He was really challenged. That was his birth. There is always a circle of life. I have seen family members passing away and family members being born so I understand there is a circle of life. You have to accept it. You have to support it if is right. That’s what I am doing.”
https://youtu.be/sKAVgc3tMz0
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