The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Klitschko steps up mind games
Joshua keeps calm ahead of Wembley fight
Wladimir Klitschko intensified his mind games before tomorrow’s world heavyweight title fight with Anthony Joshua by revealing he has already recorded his prediction of the outcome.
The challenger, 41, brandished a memory stick which he said contained a video of that prediction, and said it would be sealed in the robe he will wear into the ring at Wembley Stadium.
He is bidding to become a three-time world champion by claiming Joshua’s IBF title and the WBA belt last held by his conqueror Tyson Fury, but, despite repeatedly stating his respect for his opponent, he clearly attempted to unnerve him.
At Wednesday evening’s public workouts at Wembley Arena there were suggestions Klitschko deliberately finished late to ensure Joshua would be waiting to start his.
There is also a belief that he has remained so respectful towards the 27-year-old in an attempt to soften his edge before the two finally enter the ring.
Holding the memory stick at yesterday’s press conference in London, Klitschko said: “I recorded a video last week, and the outcome of the fight. My prediction, so to say.
“This (memory stick) is going to be in my robe, which I’m going to wear this Saturday night, sealed.
“Do not ask me after the fight, ‘What is on the stick?’
“The only person who’s going to be able to watch it is the person who’s going to buy this robe, and all the money will go to the Klitschko Foundation.”
The Ukrainian dismissed rumours he is carrying an eye-socket injury as “fake news”.
“I’m going to fight a guy whose age is the exact number I’ve been in boxing: 27 years.
“Life is a circle. I see myself in ‘AJ’. I do believe I know how he thinks, where he goes, what he’s going to do, and how the actual fight is going to be.”
Joshua retained the same calmness he has throughout this fight’s build-up – perhaps a consequence of his struggles against Dillian Whyte in 2015 when he became angry – and refused to respond to his challenger.
“(On Saturday night) I win. It’s not complicated. Let’s not over-think it. It’s not rocket science, it’s just a fight. Let’s strip it right back to what it is.”
Joshua’s usually-quiet trainer Rob McCracken, who oversaw Carl Froch’s 2014 victory over George Groves at the same venue, said: “Anthony’s at the peak of his powers. He’ll learn in this fight, develop as a fighter, and onwards and upwards.
“As great a fighter as Klitschko has been, Father Time’s a terrible person when he shows up and I think he’s already showed up, so it’s going to be tough for Wladimir.”