A shoo-in for the boxing hall-of-fame in the coming years, the longtime ruler of the heavyweight division ‘Dr Steelhammer’ Wladimir Klitschko is eight months into his retirement.
He retired following his monumental last stand at Wembley in April 2017. He collided with Anthony Joshua in a memorable changing of the guard battle that ultimately culminated with Joshua forcing a stoppage of the Klitschko in the eleventh round.
Klitschko was unsuccessful in his attempt at becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion that night.
He is however still the only man who has experience of facing off with the last two unified world heavyweight champions. Anthony Joshua and the man he surrendered the crown to in 2015, Tyson Fury.
Decent night meeting everyone, having a laugh & achieving a GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for the Biggest Boxercise Class EVER in partnership with @LucozadeSport đ§#Fitwaterpic.twitter.com/fWk70RjrGd
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) April 10, 2018
Klitschko has predicted that Joshua certainly overcomes the challenge Fury will pose. The Ukrainian 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist merely dismissed ‘The Gypsy King’ as a ‘fart in the wind.’
âHands down, Joshua [wins]. He is getting to be the complete fighter,â Klitschko said in an interview with the Times.
âTechnically, size-wise, weight-wise, power-wise. And he is a good learner. The other guy [Fury], like a fart in the wind it is there and it is gone.
Had a fantastic day with my boy in London really looking forward to my comeback fight 8 weeks Saturday, pic.twitter.com/VM16F1BLEm
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) April 12, 2018
Klitschko went on to add he believes Fury’s momentary success has now passed. He will slowly fade into obscurity as a flash in the pan because Wladimir doesn’t believe Fury possesses the necessary commitment for the sweet science.
âIn the history of boxing there are a lot of examples of this kind of guy. They can be successful for a time but are not disciplined enough to continue to be successful.”
âI wish Tyson well but I think there is a lack of discipline there, and discipline is more important than motivation. Motivation comes and goes, discipline remains;” Wladimir added.
âI am not Nostradamus, I canât predict the future, but drawing from my experience I would say it is going to be very difficult for Tyson because thereâs that lack of discipline.”
âYou can lose your motivation, but never your DISCIPLINE!â What is discipline? Discipline: is the accumulation of drills/habits/rituals made through the span of time.
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) April 9, 2018
Klitschko also discussed the potential of a mammoth world heavyweight title unification for the undisputed title between Joshua and the undefeated, brazen WBC world heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder.
Klitschko believes Wilder would be a much more problematic proposition for his former opponent.
âIt would be a dangerous fight for Anthony Joshua,â Klitschko told the Sunday Times.
âIâm not saying he wouldnât win it but Wilder has something.”
The something that Klitschko is mentioning, is that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has speed combined with knockout power.
âDue to his weight, he is extremely fast.”
âHe has good power in his hands and heâs extremely fast”
Wilder has also been ridiculed in some quarters for displaying somewhat sub-par technically on occasion in his fights. ‘Dr Steelhammer’ however, commented that the unpredictability of the Alabama native’s attack is a danger in itself.
“Maybe heâs kind of wild in his technique but those punches are coming from who knows where.”
#Revolution âđż#BombZquadpic.twitter.com/fjxJe6ITAK
— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) April 15, 2018
âHe is hard to defend against â where is that punch going to land or which side is it coming from?â
“Joshua has all-around more capability but Wilder is taller than Joshua and is faster than Joshua,â Klitschko added.
âHe doesnât have the weight behind his punches but he is extremely fast, and it would depend upon what kind of mood both fighters were in;â Klitschko concluded.
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