By Lyle Fitzsimmons
If you thought Wladimir Klitschko looked happy, you thought right.
The former consensus ruler of the heavyweight division has spent the last 13 months out of the ringed spotlight, but he took a giant step toward returning when he agreed to meet Anthony Joshua on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London.
The imminent showdown was officially announced 11 days ago after Joshua dispatched Eric Molina in three rounds and invited the Ukrainian to share his afterglow. Tickets went on sale this week, and Klitschko, who'll be 41 by fight night, has already started counting the hours until he can end what'll amount to a 17-month layoff.
"I tell you I feel good about it and it was good to have a break, which I never had," he said. "I had time to regroup. I’m anxious and my motivation is high as the sky, so I’m totally juiced up and looking forward to getting in the ring."
He last fought in November 2015, when he lost a surprising decision to Tyson Fury that ended a nine-plus year stretch in which he'd collected the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles.
Fury hasn't fought since and his belts are gradually being repossessed. Joshua won the IBF crown last April, and the winner of the Klitschko fight will also take home the vacant IBO and WBA baubles.
"I had both guns cocked. I had them cocked for a year, and by the time I’ll be in the ring it’s going to be a year-and-a-half since my last fight," Klitschko said. "I’m just looking forward to letting my energy go and actually shooting those guns. It’s something that I never had in my professional or my amateur career when I was without a fight for a year and a half. It’s never before been like that. It’s a new experience for me, to be honest, and I’m excited. I’m looking forward to this challenge. I think this is the best fight we could get."
Joshua was 16 when Klitschko began his reign with a seventh-round erasure of Chris Byrd in April 2006. He turned pro after winning Olympic gold in 2012 and has won 18 straight fights, all by knockout.
The Molina fight was his second defense of the IBF belt he took from Charles Martin. Klitschko has sparred with the youngster and, in fact, has frequently labeled him the future of the heavyweight division.
"I see myself in him," he said. "I totally get what he is and that is an extremely talented fighter. He’s an athlete. He is my size. He’s like a copy of me. We’re pretty much similar except for the age difference. I have definitely been supportive of his talent and always, from the first day, was saying that I think he’s an extremely talented athlete. I think it’s going to be a challenge for both of us. Not just for myself, to fight a young man, but also for Anthony as well. He has 18 fights so far, I’m going to be his 19th fight, and it’s going to be different for him than positions he’s been in before."
As for how a 41-year-old man beats a 27-year-old version of himself, Klitschko suggests that youth may not everything it's cracked up to be.
"I do not feel my age. Believe it or not," he said. "I don’t know what it’s going to be like in five years, but right now I cannot complain about my speed, endurance or anything else. I actually feel even better than before. To people out there that are not involved in boxing, it is probably a concern. Obviously numbers don’t lie. (But) I think it’s more of an advantage than (a) disadvantage.
"If I look back, and I did compare myself with Anthony, I didn’t like my 20s at all because you’re young, you’re successful, but there’s also a lot of concerns and unknown parts of yourself. Also, in certain ways, insecurities. Even if you look strong and you knock everybody out, there’s certainly insecurity as well. I do love my 30s and 40s so far. It’s not a definite disadvantage. It also has a positive side."
The ambiance, too, may be an edge, he said.
Though Joshua has endured the pressure of the Olympics and has fought to packed houses at arenas in London and Manchester, the Klitschko match will be his first headline date at Wembley -- where he appeared on the undercard of the 2014 rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves.
Klitschko, meanwhile, has fought four times at Madison Square Garden, in addition to several dates in Las Vegas and several more at high-profile venues in Germany, Russia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
"For Anthony, it’s going to be the first time. Is it an advantage? I don’t know," he said. "The first time it was not really a disadvantage or an advantage to fight in a stadium. It was different. I was excited actually about fighting in a bigger arena. It’s definitely different. Wembley is huge. I was there and it’s an amazing arena. A mecca of sports. I am excited about the same degree as Anthony to fight in such a great, great stadium and arena."
It's Joshua's presumed ability to fill seats that became a deciding factor in the pursuit of him -- as opposed to other reigning heavyweight claimants like WBC champ Deontay Wilder and WBO title-holder Joseph Parker -- for the comeback fight.
Wilder has reigned for nearly two years with three defenses in Alabama and one in New York, while Parker captured his belt against Andy Ruiz earlier this month and has fought just four of 22 career bouts away from his native turf in New Zealand.
"Who else would get Wembley Stadium full -- 90,000 fans full? What other opponent or champion would create such an amount of pay-per-view on British soil and bring the finances as well?" Klitschko said. "Which opponent would have such awareness worldwide? No one. Wilder? No way. Parker? No way. Who else but Anthony?
"I think it’s all playing into our hands for Anthony and for myself to make this fight happen and I also like, (as a) matter of fact, that we do not throw fits in each other’s faces at the press conference, (or) chairs and tables. We don't promise to eat each other's children. All this nonsense. In this world that is full of nonsense, I think this is the highlight that people look forward to. Even if it’s friendly. I think everybody is just so excited about it. And no other champions and no other heavyweights could have created that attention."
Which means there's no guarantee Klitschko will pursue the other titles even if he's successful in April, unlike his previous run -- during which he won the two belts against Byrd and added others with defeats of Sultan Ibragimov (WBO) and David Haye (WBA).
Joshua is ranked seventh by the Independent World Boxing Rankings, which include all fighters in a weight class regardless of the belts they hold. Wilder is third, Parker is fifth and Klitschko is first.
"It’s something that I was thinking about 10 years ago, or even earlier. You always do from fight to fight," Klitschko said. "As long as I’m healthy and motivated, I will continue. If one of those two is missing, then I will stop. But it has been the same attitude for probably 15 years. I don’t want to look too far in the future, but as long as I’m healthy and I’m motivated, I love what I’m doing.
"I have enough fire in my hands and my heart to motivate myself. My motivation is as high as the sky. I don’t need abusive language to motivate myself. I love, as a matter of fact, that this is so about the sport."
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This week’s title-fight schedule:
No fights scheduled.
Last week's picks: 2-0 (WIN: Niyomtrong, Usyk)
2016 picks record: 89-24 (78.7 percent)
Overall picks record: 822-272 (75.1 percent)
NOTE: Fights previewed are only those involving a sanctioning body's full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, etc. Fights for WBA "world championships" are only included if no "super champion" exists in the weight class.
Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. He is a full voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.
