Wladimir Klitschko has failed in his bid to become a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion as he was stopped in the 11th round by Britain's Anthony Joshua, before a crowd of 90,000 at Wembley.

The 41-year-old Klitschko was on the canvas in round five before sending Joshua to the mat for the first time in his career in round six.

But Joshua rallied and dropped Klitschko twice with an uppercut and left hook combination before a flurry of punches in the corner gave the referee no choice but to stop the fight in the penultimate round and declare the British fighter as the undefeated WBA, IBO and IBF heavyweight world champion.

It was described as the biggest fight night ever staged in a British ring and watched by the biggest crowd for a boxing match in Britain for 78 years.

The veteran Klitschko had even looked the more likely winner as he defied a 14-year age gap and was outboxing Joshua in the latter stages until the Briton produced a blistering finish to take his unbeaten record to 19 wins.

But now another big challenge waits for Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) - in the form of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs).

Wilder would first like to face WBO champion Joseph Parker in a unification and then Joshua at the end of the year with all five heavyweight titles at stake.

"Like I said before, it's all about unification now," Wilder told Sky Sports. "I want to do my thing and go get those other belts. At the end of the year, we have a mega fight. Winner takes all, considered the best man on the planet.

"I'm very comfortable over here. I love coming over here. Every time I come over here I get much love, so if I had to come over here, I would come with open arms, without hesitation."