Beating Klitschko would make Joshua ‘legend’

British stars Khan and Brook in talks about bout

LONDON, Dec 14, (AFP): Britain’s heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua says beating Ukrainian veteran Wladimir Klitschko in their mouthwatering showdown for the IBF and WBA crowns next April would entitle him to be called a legend.

The 27-year-old 2012 Olympic champion — who defended his IBF title successfully last Saturday against American journeyman Eric Molina — will face off against Klitschko on April 29 at Wembley Stadium and said the bout could be a life-changing experience for him. “A knockout is the cherry on top but to win, whichever way, is very possible,” said Joshua at a press conference also attended by

BOXING

Klitschko at Wembley on Wednesday.

“This is a fight that can change one from champion to legend overnight.

“It will draw masses of attention and they are the type of fights that can change the way people view you.”

Klitschko, who will be 41 by the time the bout takes place, said he has stayed in the sport since losing his WBA, IBF and WBO belts in a surprise defeat by troubled British pugilist Tyson Fury in November 2015 expressly to regain his titles.

British boxing stars Kell Brook and Amir Khan ‘are in talks’ to fight each other in May 2017, according to IBF welterweight world champion Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn.

Both pugilists experienced chastening defeats when they stepped up a weight division to middleweight — Brook’s bout with the outstanding Kazakh Gennady Golovkin being halted in the fifth round and Khan going one round further with Mexican Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. Britain’s Anthony Joshua (left), faces off to Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko during a press conference at Wembley Stadium in north west London on Dec 14. Klitschko will fight Joshua on April 29, 2017 at Wembley Stadium in London.

(AFP)