() £100m GAMBLE

Heavyweight battle sends punters crazy

MORE THAN £100million is expected to be bet worldwide on tonight’s world heavyweight championship superfight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium.

Last night fans were still clamouring to be part of the British record crowd of 90,000, with the best tickets changing hands for thousands of pounds on resale websites.

Millions more will watch on television and around £20m is expected to be wagered on the fight in the UK alone.

Yesterday’s weigh-in produced a sensation of its own as Joshua hit the scales heavier than Klitschko by almost 10lb. Klitschko, 41, came in half a stone lighter than his usual fighting weight, at 17st 2lb.

The surprise on the scales may affect the betting odds, which have been favouring Joshua narrowly at just under 1-2, with Klitschko at a little less than 2-1. A crowd of some 2,000 in the Wembley Arena were told by Joshua that he would not necessarily go for the quickfire KO which has been predicted.

He said: ‘In a fight at this level I go round-by-round and then take advantage of the opening if one presents itself. I don’t dislike Klitschko, but I want to beat Klitschko.’