Joshua v Klitschko prediction and betting tips
Our tipster Simon Crawford is backing an Anthony Joshua stoppage in Saturday's world heavyweight title blockbuster with Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.
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It's master against apprentice on Saturday night when Wladimir Klitschko makes only his second appearance in the UK for his eagerly-anticipated world heavyweight title showdown with British hero Anthony Joshua.
But in a strange twist of fate, it is the young pretender who will hold all the aces when he steps out in front of 90,000 fight fans at Wembley Stadium.
It was always likely that the 2012 Olympic gold medallist was going to face the Ukrainian legend at some point after deciding to punch for pay shortly after his London Games triumph.
What is surprising is that the meeting is going to happen in only the Watford man's 19th fight in the paid ranks and absolutely astonishing that Klitschko does not have a title to bring to the table after being top dog in the division for so long.
Joshua, 27, will be defending his IBF title, while the WBA 'super' and IBO straps will also be up for grabs against the challenger, who turned 41 last month.
So in one corner you have Joshua whose career is moving along at a rapid pace and is being hyped as the man to dominate boxing's most glamorous division for the next decade.
In the other corner, you have Klitschko who did dominate for a decade but now faces a must-win fight if he is continue operating at the highest level.
Just 18 months ago it was unthinkable that Klitschko would find himself in this precarious position.
He was the holder of four world belts and had built up a winning streak of 22 fights stretching back to 2004, 15 of them coming inside the distance.
But he then ran into the outspoken, flamboyant, unpredictable but dangerously talented Tyson Fury and his entire world was left in ruins.
Given little chance by most, especially with the fight being in Germany, Briton Fury pulled off one of the biggest upsets in boxing history when he out-fought, out-thought and outmanoeuvred Klitschko to claim a comfortable points win.
A rematch was signed, sealed but not quite delivered as Fury pulled out with an ankle injury. The fight was postponed and re-arranged but Fury again pulled out after allegedly failing a drugs test while also suffering with depression.
He was forced to give up the belts which he had worked so hard for and lost his licence which he has still not got back.
So in stepped Joshua and before we knew it the date was April 29 and the venue was Wembley Stadium.
AJ's progress has thus far been serene as a professional - WBC international champion after nine fights, Commonwealth champion after 14 and British champion after 15.
He won the IBF world title in his 16th fight by stopping Charles Martin in two and has made subsequent defences against Dominic Breazeale (TKO 7) and Eric Molina (TKO 3) - he has won all of his 18 fights inside the distance and is still to go past seven rounds.
But, at least on paper, this is his biggest test so far and a golden opportunity to go on to become the most dominant heavyweight on the planet.
"When we've been training, we've always been training for fights like this," said Joshua. "Even when I was fighting people who were not as talented or experienced as Klitschko, we were always training as if I was fighting better opponents.
"Now, I'm here, let's get it on. Everyone has to step up in their career and I am just doing mine now, whether it was against Klitschko or any of the other champions.
"Three and a bit years as a pro and I am making history, so I am happy about that side of things."
Fury showed on that extraordinary night in Dusseldorf that Klitschko (64-4, 53KOs) was far from being invincible.
You could only admire the winning streak he put together after being stopped by Lamon Brewster in five back in 2004, but it was a workmanlike reign with few spectacular moments.
Many of his opponents were much smaller and adopted survival mode from the first bell. Fury was one of the few who was taller and Klitschko struggled badly that night to land anything meaningful.
There is no doubt that physically he will be in top shape this weekend, but only he will know how mentally scarred he was by that shock loss - and especially the manner of it.
He has been using his experience to try to ramp up the pressure on Joshua in the build-up, even likening himself to Mount Everest.
"Everest has been there for a long time and will be there for a long time," he said.
"You can get to the top and say 'I conquered Everest'. Then you've got to run down because it's going to take you down if you miss the time.
"After you're down, a lot of people died there. Some made it, not many, but some made it back. But Mount Everest is still there. Is Mount Everest defeated? It's still there and it's going to take another life this April.
"It's just the track of history. It was 27 years ago when I started and I am still here. I have guys who have conquered me in certain periods of time out of the 68 fights.
"Four of them have made it out of a 21-year professional career. The rest didn't. Most didn't and the most amazing thing is I'm still here: they're not."
If Klitschko thought he suffered a rude awakening against Fury, then I feel he could be in for another one against Joshua. The Briton is the same height at 6ft 6ins and has an inch of extra reach and even that small amount could be crucial as I feel this fight will be won and lost with the jab.
Klitschko's ram-rod left earned him the nickname of 'Dr Steelhammer' and it has won him many fights down the years. So if AJ can keep beating him to the punch then that will nullify a big part of the veteran's gameplan.
I also think that Klitschko now finds himself competing against a new, much-improved and dangerous generation of young heavyweights.
The likes of Joshua, Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker are all 6ft-plenty and they are genuine athletes.
They are ripped, they move well, they slip punches, they are not gassing after three rounds, they have good footwork and they hit hard. Very hard.
Klitschko struggled with Fury's physical attributes and I feel he could do the same this weekend.
If Joshua sets a fast pace and can keep throwing out his jab than I don't see the challenger being able to revert to a plan B because he's never had to in the past and ultimately I don't that believe he actually has one.
So many fights in the past saw him throw a jab, maybe a double jab, followed by a right hook and then look to hold and smother any counter-attack.
Joshua will not allow this to happen and should look to engage only when he wants to.
Experience is a huge factor and that is obviously something in Klitschko's favour having boxed a staggering 358 rounds in his stellar career, compared to just Joshua's 44.
But despite the occasion, the fact the fight is in London and the fact he is the champion, I think AJ can go into this fight in quite a relaxed mood because while defeat would be a bitter pill to swallow, he would be able to come back from it.
This, however, is last-chance saloon for Klitschko and that is serious pressure.
He has stated that even if he wins he may retire and I find that a strange mindset to understand.
Timing is everything in boxing and I think Joshua is taking on this challenge at exactly the right time.
Klitschko has not fought since that loss to Fury and that is a long time to be away from the ring, especially after such a calamitous and unexpected loss.
For 18 months, he will have been brooding and all the time feelings of self-doubt will have manifested themselves.
The layers obviously think he arrives in London as damaged goods because they have Joshua as favourite across the board, with the challenger at over 2/1 in places which in itself is fairly remarkable when you compare the respective records and experience.
But I am confident this is Joshua's time and I am certain he will achieve what would be a career-defining victory.
The champion is young, hungry and has the greater desire but most importantly I think he is the better boxer even at this early stage of his career. His jab is hurtful and we have all seen how devastating his right hand is.
I have to say I have smiled when people have said in the build-up that Joshua was 'wobbled' by Dillian Whyte and Klitschko 'has been down a couple of times so he's chinny'.
These are heavyweights we are taking about. If a 17 stone man hits you flush then believe me you are going to wobble!
It comes down to conditioning which helps you absorb punches and technique which helps you block or move out of the way.
And I simply don't see Klitschko being able to stand up to Joshua's raw power for 12 rounds. He may be a novice in title terms, but he knows how to hit and I don't see this fight going the distance.
At some point he will get the opportunity to unload and if he connects then the challenger is going to be in trouble and at 41 how much punch resistance does Klitschko have?
It's just a case of trying to plot when the finish will come.
I think the early rounds will be cagey as there is plenty of respect between the two and it will take time for AJ to break him down.
So I think the 11/4 being offered by Paddy Power and Betfair Sportsbook for Joshua to win in rounds 7-12 is the way to go as he will need to grow into the fight and establish his jab before looking to go in for the kill.
I also think he may have to venture into uncharted waters and go past seven rounds for the first time to achieve this victory so I'm also advising a small supplementary bet on Joshua between rounds 9-12 which is 11/2 with Sky Bet and Stan James.
A Joshua victory really will mean the dawn of a new era - but at the same time will also herald the final fall of a once great champion.
Where to watch on TV: Sky Sports Box Office
Posted at 1305 BST on 26/04/17.
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