If looks could kill, death row would be filled with would-be models. But muscles alone do not a fighter make?
On April 29 at Wembley Stadium in Wembley, London, United Kingdom, former unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs), from Kiev, Ukraine, by way of Zhangiztobe, Kazakhstan, challenges IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs), the young gun from Watford, Hertfordshire, UK.
Klitschko, at the age of 41, hopes to be the first man to defeat 27-year-old Joshua. The changing of the guard formally took place when Tyson Fury outpointed the former champ in 2015, but Fury?s meltdown opened the door for ?Dr. Steelhammer? to make history one more time.
Speaking with Johnny Nelson on Sky Sports, Klitschko observed that Joshua is a younger version of himself.
?We look alike, size-wise,? he said. ?Arm length is pretty much the same. Biceps? Maybe in his smaller T-shirt [he] looks better. Punching power, we don?t need to talk about.?
If looks could kill, death row would be filled with would-be models. But muscles alone do not a fighter make.
?There are a lot of equal things,? continued Klitschko. ?Preparation, camp, altitude training, nutrition?we can name a lot of things. The more I look at it, it?s a copy. Different, but in a certain way it?s a copy.
?After having the experience in my last fight [the embarrassing loss to Fury]…I?m not happy with that. But this obsession, in other words, is like a threat going through my heart and my mind, and I totally love it.?
Joshua respects Klitschko and all he has accomplished, but time stands still for no one.
?I hear a lot about age, but it?s a young man?s sport,? he said. ?At the time he has his experience, which will be good to see you through a few rounds, but then the youth, excitement, adrenaline and speed will start causing issues.
?You can?t prepare for what I bring to the table, no matter how much experience you have.?
They can?t both be right. Either Joshua loses his undefeated record, or Klitschko gets punched into retirement by a somewhat green, unproven fighter.
