30 Apr 2017

Joshua overcomes Klitschko

10:47 am on 30 April 2017

The Ukrainian 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 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.

Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko fight at Wembley Stadium in front of a 90 thousand strong crowd.

Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko fight at Wembley Stadium in front of a 90 thousand strong crowd. Photo: Photosport

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 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.

"A massive shout out to Wladimir Klitschko for taking part, I'm not going to say too much, in terms of the boxing hall of fame, he's a role model in and out of the ring," Joshua said.

"Boxing is about character, as I said from the get go it will be a boxing classic, find what you believe in and give it a go."