Answer to that question is not far fetched. To pugilists and the Nigerian born British newest boxing king Anthony Olaseni Joshua there are two obvious fights next up for him.
He can either face Tyson Fury, who beat Klitschko all those months ago, or the American Deontay Wilder, who has 38 straight wins, 37 of which are by knockout.
Tyson Fury tweeted immediately Joshua won saying @Tyson_FuryWellldone @anthonyfjoshua good fight, you had life & death with @klitschko & I played with the guy, let’s dance
After the fight Joshua was big on the possibility of fighting Fury.
” “Tyson Fury, where you at baby? Come on, is that what you want to see? I enjoy fighting. I love fighting. Tyson Fury I know he has been talking a lot and wants to come back and compete. I want to give 90,000 people another chance to come back and watch some boxing here,” he said.
The truth is that it doesn’t matter any more.
Joshua is the biggest name in boxing and one of the biggest names in the world of sport.
Wilder and Fury would both be lucky to face Joshua and in truth they would be lucky to come out of a bout with their chins intact.
Anthony Joshua Vladimir KlitschkoGetty Images
Neither have shown anything recently (Fury hasn’t fought since Klitschko 17 months ago) to suggest they could live with Joshua, who has proven himself against one of the greatest of all-time.
They’ll both present tests in their own way, Fury in particular could pose real problems if he’s in shape, but nothing like the test Joshua’s right hand presents.
If anyone is going to unify the belts, it is going to be Joshua.
And Klitschko?
Klitschko is one of sport’s great gentlemen. The respect between himself and Joshua was clear for all to see and the fact that Klitschko was so much better on Saturday night than against Fury demonstrates how he felt he needed to be at his best.
Even at the age of 41 Klitschko showed that he too deserves a place in the pantheon of the greats and if he were to retire there would be no shame; he did himself justice in this fight.
That is for him to decide though. He will be disappointed with this result but he can be proud of the part he played in this incredible story.
History shouldn’t, and won’t, forget what Klitschko has achieved in his career, and for the grace with which he conducted himself. Joshua is his true heir out of the ring as well as inside it.
REASONS WHY KLITSCHKO LOST
Nigerian analysts as published today in one of the national dailies(online medium) there are four major reasons whythe 41 years old but with more experiences Klitschko, lost the bout to Joshua
1. Age
At 41, Klitschko though still very much the athlete was visibly tired by the end of the ninth round. Anthony Joshua, who is 14 years younger, wouldn’t have lasted the distance against the rampaging Ukrainian when he was in his 30s.
2. That sixth round goof
The much-experienced Klitschko entered the ring with an incredible stat, 53 KOs in 68 fights and 64 victories. The sixth round should have been the end. Early in the round, the powerful Ukranian hit Joshua with a massive right hand, spilling his mouthpiece.
The UK Guardian exclaimed: “Joshua in serious trouble! Oh dear. Joshua looks exhausted. He’s taking shots that he sees coming. Too tired to move out of the line of fire. No legs, breathing through his mouth heavily. Now he digs deep at the end of the round but it’s surely too little too late.”
Klitschko had the moment to finish off Joshua, he didn’t and the rest is history.
3. Fight rustiness
Klitschko’s last fight was against Tyson Fury on 28 November 2015, losing his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, The Ring, and lineal heavyweight titles. After two botched rematches between the two, Fury was forced to vacate the WBA (Unified), WBO, IBO heavyweight titles.
After 18 months of inactivity, the 41-year-old stepped into the ring against a younger man who last fought in December 2016.
4. Joshua wanted it more
The scary thing is that he’s only just getting started; in many ways this was Joshua’s coming of age fight.
He will go on to dominate the sporting hemisphere for the next five, 10, possibly 15 years, such is his talent.
And it was Saturday night, the moment when it all changed. The prospect became the champion, the lad from Watford became the ruler of his sport, the prince became the king.
Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko show eachother respect after the IBF, WBA and IBO Heavyweight World Title bout at Wembley Stadium on April 29, 2017 in London, England.Getty Images
