As previously reported, Wladimir Klitschko will take time to consider his future in boxing but revealed he will only fight again for a rematch with Anthony Joshua.
The Ukrainian suffered the fifth defeat of his decorated career, and the second in succession, when he was dramatically stopped in the 11th round of a thrilling clash at Wembley Stadium by IBF, IBO and WBA heavyweight champion Joshua.
Klitschko, 41 years old, had looked on the verge of victory when he heavily dropped Joshua in the sixth round, after which he felt he could have done more to finish the younger fighter off.
The Ukrainian, who has secured 54 stoppages from his 63 victories, spoke of his surprise that Joshua succeeded in recovering from such a heavy knockdown.
He thought Joshua was finished, as the younger man appeared to be running on empty after failing to finish off Klitschko in the fifth round. He was still gassing pretty heavy in the sixth when he got dropped and took several rounds to recover before Klitschko himself was tired in the championship rounds.
After dropping Joshua, some felt Klitschko let him off the hook, but the veteran explained that he was taking his time because he never imagined that Joshua would recover from that round.
"I thought he wouldn't get up," Klitschko said. "He managed to get up: respect. From that moment I felt he was out of gas and concentration. He recovered through the rounds.
"I could have done more to finish him off after he went down, but I was pretty sure 'This is going to be my night' so I took my time.
"I got caught and the blood was streaming into my eye, and it was difficult to see due to the thickness of the blood. I recovered well, took a beating, but recovered well."
