London: How Twitter reacted to Anthony Joshua’s dramatic heavyweight title victory over Wladimir Klitschko:
“One of the most exciting fights I’ve ever seen. Congrats @anthonyfjoshua on the win & @Klitschko on amazing battle. Hope there’s a rematch.”
- Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger who was ringside at Wembley
“Well done @anthonyfjoshua good fight, you had life & death with @klitschko & I played with the guy, let’s dance.”
- British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury who defeated Klitschko in 2015
“The only sport that truly deserve the big bucks, LG.”
- Oasis rocker Liam Gallagher
“How much heart did @Klitschko show in this fight? Gotta respect it. Hold ur head high brother! #joshuaklitschko.”
- Former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis
“Such an amazing fight with 2 great fighters. Lot of heart by both fighters. A lot of questions answered by @anthonyfjoshua #JoshuaKlitchsko.”
- US boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard
“What a fight!! Didn’t expect that! Great fight! #joshuaklitschko.”
- Former two-weight world champion Joe Calzaghe
“Great Britain aged 5 years during that fifth round. Thank God Joshua found a second wind from somewhere.”
- Ex-England football star Michael Owen
“Brilliant post fight interview from Klitschko. What a gentleman. 5 minutes from regaining his title, but Joshua’s power eventually told.”
- Owen again
“What a fight @anthonyfjoshua you Sir are different class. That was incredible...wow... what a way to get back up and knock him out...”
- British golfer Ian Poulter
“Antony Joshua is Messi and Ronaldo combine in boxing.”
- Russia’s former tennis Grand Slam champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov
Klitschko landed a right to the temple in the sixth round which dropped Joshua for the first knockdown of his professional career.
“I thought he would not get up,” said Klitschko. “I thought I could have done more to finish him after he went down. I was pretty sure it was going to be my night so I took my time.”
Joshua, the 2012 Olympic gold medallist, became subdued as Klitschko, who won the Olympic title in 1996, clawed his way back into the fight until the Briton unloaded a series of combinations to seal victory.
“I took a round off to get my breath back and then I said: ‘You’re in a bad place’,” Joshua recalled.
“I tried to recover and then step it up in the later rounds, that was the plan.
“I learned I can knock out anyone. Sometimes you have to ride a few shots and take a few shots before pushing on for victory.”
Joshua’s powerful right uppercuts featured in all three of the knockdowns but the fight was close at the time of the stoppage: one judge had it 95-93 to Klitschko, while the other two scored it 96-93, 95-93 for Joshua.