IBF, WBA, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (19-0, 19 KOs) has reflected on his big win over Wladimir Klitschko from April.
It was Joshua's career-defining win, as he unified the three titles before a crowd of 90,000 at Wembley in London.
Joshua dropped Klitschko in the fifth round, but then he was forced to get off the floor in the sixth round to rally down the stretch and scored two more knockdowns in the eleventh for the stoppage win.
There was a rematch clause and the wheels were in motion for a second fight with Klitschko in November, with the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the frontrunner to host.
On Thursday, Klitschko collapsed those plans when he announced his retirement from boxing after 27 years in the sport.
Klitschko's decline first began in November 2015, when he was defeated over twelve rounds by Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs) in Germany.
He was in active until he got in the ring with Joshua this year. Fury has yet to fight again, after going through some mental health issues and dealing with substance abuse. Two weeks ago he appeared to announce his retirement from the sport on social media, but it wasn't clear if he was serious - as Fury announced his retirement several times in the past.
Fury downplayed Joshua's win over Klitschko - but the Olympic gold medal winner believes he's got the much better victory between the two. In the years to come, Joshua expects the sport to remember his win over Klitschko, while the victory achieved by Fury is less likely to receive a positive mention.
"He didn't throw a punch [against Wladimir Klitschko]. He didn't come to fight. He just walked around the ring for like twelve rounds, it's boring. It's not winning, it's how you win. His stock didn't rise. Your stock has got to rise and he could have had the better win. When people look at it, many years after, ask them whose fight they will remember," Joshua told Sky Sports.
