AJ V Klitschko: There are questions and there will certainly be answers
The 29th April is fast approaching. As all boxing fans in the UK and many around the world will know, this is the day Wembley Stadium will play host to one of the most intriguing heavyweight title fights in recent times. Intriguing, due to the many questions that will be answered when the fight plays out in front of 90,000 excited boxing fans.
Anthony Joshua will defend his IBF heavyweight title against former champion Wladimir Klitschko, whose last encounter ended in his being dethroned by the now stripped champion Tyson Fury.
The questions start with how credible was Fury’s victory? Is Fury just that good or did Fury’s tactics in the lead up to that fight pay off and take Klitschko out of his game? Did Klitschko just have a bad night or has father time really caught up with him?
At the age of 41, is 17 months too much of a layoff to come straight back into a title fight with a young hungry champion? Would a tune up fight not have been better to get the cobwebs out before going straight into a title fight? Can Klitschko take AJ’s power?
As for Joshua. Though Fury beat and exposed Klitschko in their fight. And although in my opinion, it was one of the worst fights to decide any heavyweight title. Does Joshua have enough experience to get past the super experienced Klitschko?
Has AJ really learnt enough for what many say has been sub par opponents, to get past a hurt, obsessed and determined Klitschko? Can a relatively untested AJ chin take Klitschko’s power?
Has the fight come too early for AJ? Will this calculated gamble to claim a big name on his record backfire? If Joshua doesn’t get Klitschko out there early, how will his stamina hold up?
If all the rumours and how both fighters have responded to their sparring sessions in 2014. When Joshua was helping Klitschko get ready for his title fight with Pulev are to be believed. Klitschko was extremely dominant in those sessions against Joshua.
But AJ admitted he is a much different fighter to the one in 2014. After all, he is a world champion now and has the world at his feet. But that adds extra pressure. Something that could also be a factor in this fight.
Although Klitschko is the former 10-year unbeaten world champion. More pressure will be on Joshua, in his home town with all the future expectations upon him. If things are not exactly going to plan after a few rounds, it will be interesting to see how he handles that new-found pressure and how he responds mentally.
Klitschko on the other hand. Although he is coming off a crushing defeat, losing his titles in one of his poorest performances in the ring. At 41 he has to know he does not have many fights left in him and will not be under as much pressure as AJ. So will be fighting almost as freely as he has in the past decade. This will make him a dangerous fighter.
That said. The fight itself will most likely be a chess match to begin with. The magnitude of the fight will determine this, with no fighter wanting to make a fatal mistake early. Both are big punchers so I feel it will be a battle of the jabs early.
I do believe the fight will pick up and both will go for the knockout. I am not exactly expecting a slugfest, but I believe at some stage both will be going for it and they will trade big punches. It could even be a case of who connects flush first and who has the capacity to finish.
A points decision is very likely, but for some reason I am not expecting it to go the distance. And although AJ is the favourite, with momentum and obviously youth behind him.
It does not mean he cannot be stopped or knocked out by Klitschko. Even at the age of 41. Even after such a terrible performance in his last fight, which was almost 18 months ago. But we should remember that was his only defeat in 13 years.
Literally anything can happen in this fight. There is so many questions to be answered. Will it be a triumph for knowledge and experienced or will that fountain of youth and exuberance prove too much? All will be revealed April 29th in front of 90,000 fans in Wembley Stadium.
