By Lyle Fitzsimmons

Forget the time machine references.

Because even at the typically ancient boxing age of 41, Wladimir Klitschko doesn’t want one.

“Honestly, I do not feel my age,” he said. “Believe it or not, at least now, I don’t feel it.

“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, obviously numbers don’t lie. But is it a disadvantage? I think it’s more an advantage than disadvantage.”

It’s an optimistic mindset, and the old man is going to need every bit of the positive mojo in 32 days, when he steps into a Wembley Stadium ring to take on a 27-year-old man in Anthony Joshua who – at the time of Klitschko’s professional debut against Fabian Meza in 1996 – was all of 7.

Being a 20-something, though, wasn’t always a plus for the Ukrainian behemoth.

He was a mere 22 when he was stopped by journeyman Ross Puritty in 1998 and was less than a month shy of 27 upon falling in two rounds to Corrie Sanders 2003. His final pre-Tyson Fury loss came one year later – just 15 days past birthday No. 28 – when he lost to Lamon Brewster via fifth-round TKO in 2004.

“I didn’t like my 20s at all because you’re young, you’re successful but there’s a lot of concerns and unknown parts about yourself,” he said. “Also, in certain ways, insecurities. Even if you look strong and you knock everybody out, there’s certainly insecurity as well. I didn’t really like my 20s. But I do love my 30s and 40s so far. It’s not a definite disadvantage. It also has a positive side.”

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Indeed, the older version of Klitschko first arrived as a dominant force as a 30-year-old, when he bludgeoned Chris Byrd into a seventh-round submission to win the IBF and IBO shares of the heavyweight domain. He added the WBA and WBO straps while amassing a run of title defenses – 18 in all – that approached the reigns of Joe Louis and Larry Holmes, but he’s been a man without a challenge since dropping a surprising 12-round decision to an untested Fury in November 2015.

Many thought his run was done.

He demands to differ.

“I cocked both guns. I had them cocked for one 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,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to letting my energy go and actually shooting cocked guns. It’s something that I never had in my professional or my amateur career, when I was for year or a year and a half without a fight. 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 that we could get.”

Fury, a gangly 6-foot-9, bamboozled Klitschko with fits and starts of movement and aggression, leaving the then-champion perpetually uncomfortable and unwilling to go all-in pressing the action.

The new champion has yet to fight since the upset win and has been in and out of the news with reports of suicide ramblings, drug usage and weight gain. Joshua, meanwhile, has been deemed by many the division’s next big thing thanks to a run of 18 straight KO’s – including title-fight wins over Charles Martin, Dominic Breazeale and Eric Molina.

Klitschko savors the possibilities.

“I can tell you I feel good about (the layoff) and it’s good to have a break, which I never had,” he said.

“I had time to recoup and 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. I just want to look forward. It’s been long enough to be in this situation to be able to fight. It’s all in the past. I’m looking forward to (April) and my new challenge in the ring.”

He also respects the magnitude of the Joshua challenge.

“He’s an athlete. He is my size. He’s like a copy of me, we’re just in different colors,” Klitschko said.

“We’re pretty much similar except for the age difference. I see myself in him and I definitely been supportive of his talent and always from the first day was saying it, and I think he’s extremely talented athlete. I think it’s going to be a challenge for both of us. Not just for myself to fight a young kid, 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 what positions he’s been in before.”

* * * * * * * * * *

This week’s title-fight schedule:

FRIDAY

IBO super flyweight title -- Kempton Park, South Africa

Gideon Buthelezi (champion/No. 12 IWBR) vs. Angel Aviles (No. 29 IBO/No. 60 IWBR)

Buthelezi (18-5, 4 KO): Second title defense; Has held IBO belts at 105, 108 and 115 pounds

Aviles (12-4-1, 2 KO): First title fight; First fight outside of Mexico

Fitzbitz says: The Mexican challenger is rugged enough, and Buthelezi has been hit and stopped, but the two KOs on Aviles’ record don’t exactly frame him as a real threat. Buthelezi by decision

SATURDAY

IBO cruiserweight title -- Dortmund, Germany

Marco Huck (champion/No. 3 IWBR) vs. Mairis Briedis (No. 1 IBO/No. 8 IWBR)

Huck (40-3-1, 27 KO): Second title fight; Held WBO title at 200 pounds (2009-15, 13 title defenses)

Briedis (21-0, 18 KO): First title fight; Fifth fight in Germany (4-0, 4 KOs)

Fitzbitz says: Briedis is young, hungry and can punch. Nevertheless, Huck has a huge advantage in top-shelf experience and seems like a rejuvenated fighter since winning the IBO belt. Huck in 7

Last week's picks: 1-1 (WIN: Golovkin; LOSS: Gonzalez)

2017 picks record: 17-7 (70.8 percent)

Overall picks record: 839-281 (74.9 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.