Wladimir Klitschko sparring with Gerald Washington

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wladimir Klitschko has been sparring with American world title challenger Gerald Washington ahead of this month's Wembley fight with Anthony Joshua.

Washington has revealed on social media that he is one of the sparring partners for Klitschko, who is sharpening his ring skills at a regular training base in the Austrian mountains.

The best lessons are learned in the ring. We have to push ourselves past our comfort zone in order to grow. #GeraldWashington #Klitschko pic.twitter.com/EHihTgTl9W
— Gerald Washington (@gwgallonegro) April 5, 2017

Joshua has offered insight into his own sparring sessions, posting a picture on Twitter which confirmed he is working with Mariusz Wach, a former opponent for Klitschko.

Clubber Lang & Ivan Drago pic.twitter.com/4YD8A0mKjj
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyfjoshua) April 4, 2017

The towering Polish fighter extended Klitschko the full 12 rounds in a 2012 points defeat and Joshua has compared Wach to 'Ivan Drago', the villain in the Rocky IV movie, referring to himself as fellow character 'Clubber Lang.'

http://www.skysports.com/joshua/news/34644/10825830/1

[crusader]

Wach seems to be very popular as a sparring partner.

[greg]

..good to know the both boxers take it seriously..

[greg]

Wach seems to be very popular as a sparring partner.

..Wach never impressed me as having good skills nor is he known for his devastating power..I believe his sheer size and "granite" chin make him a decent sparring partner..

[caldo2025]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

[Baby Face Finster]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

Someone needs to put you on suicide watch should Wlad win.

[punchoutsb]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anything as pathetic as the levels of hatred, obsession and jealousy you have for a man you've never met.

[LasPalmas]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

Pretty pathetic mate.

[Enlightened-One]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

Can't you just stick to discussing the sport of boxing instead of posting hateful nonsense?

[Loki]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

I'd wager you're not a boxer. I'd wager you are a bellend though.

[punchoutsb]

You should feel a bit better now caldo, you're getting the attention you want

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I'm also looking forward to seeing Wlad splattered on the canvas. That being said, my disdain for him is entirely based on in between the ropes. He's been a true professional and ambassador for the sport. Seems pretty cool to me.

[Counter-puncher]

He's been a true professional and ambassador for the sport. Seems pretty cool to me.

I heard an interview on British BBC radio when he was on his pre-Haye charm offensive. He was articulate, funny, self-deprecating, the female anchor was just about dripping all over her chair she could barely control herself live on air it was pretty fucken funny. He seemed a pretty classy dude but thats the one interview I ever heard of his

[Tanzio]

The Siamese Klit also have a good sense of humor.

[KiwiRider]

Are they feeding Washington with some sort of speed enhancing additives?
I think size-wise, he is a good sparring warm up for AJ, except AJ is about 20% faster

[lazboy]

Are they feeding Washington with some sort of speed enhancing additives?
I think size-wise, he is a good sparring warm up for AJ, except AJ is about 20% faster

Yea plus Aj can throw combos and is good coming forward, not just holding ground or on the back foot. Makes me think Klit will try be on the front foot in the early rounds. Which is what he always tries to be honest.

[crusader]

Are they feeding Washington with some sort of speed enhancing additives?
I think size-wise, he is a good sparring warm up for AJ, except AJ is about 20% faster

The speed difference between Wlad and Wach is even greater.

[Ossyrules]

Both seem good choices, you'll never get as good as the real opponent, else they wouldn't be sparring partners now would they!

[caldo2025]

I'm also looking forward to seeing Wlad splattered on the canvas. That being said, my disdain for him is entirely based on in between the ropes. He's been a true professional and ambassador for the sport. Seems pretty cool to me.

You were doing so well after your first 11 words and then you crapped your shorts. "True Professional and ambassador for the sport". Are you trying to be funny? This goon of a human killed heavyweight boxing for 10 years single handedly. The division suffered through it's worst decade in history because of the person holding the belts and the interest he never even cared to generate. He was so boring that you couldn't even get the fight here in the states. Imagine that? Never have we ever had a heavyweight champion not be televised for title defenses.

You people need to wake the F up. That's why i'm having a Wlad knockout party. I'm going to play this knockout on a continuous loop in my mind for weeks smiling my mother f'ng ass off.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I always do well when you disagree with me.

[caldo2025]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anything as pathetic as the levels of hatred, obsession and jealousy you have for a man you've never met.

I do not hate Wlad at all. From what i've read and been told, the guy has been philanthropic with his riches and done some good outside the ring so i'll never hate someone with heart enough to share like that. I just really really dislike what he did with one of the most treasured positions in sports..period.

The Heavyweight Champion of the World used to be the top of the top....that was better than a president or dictator...it used to have prestige and mystique. You could walk the streets of NYC and show people Wlad's picture and they wouldn't know who the heck he is. Sad. Sad. Sad. When Tyson was champion, he was the most popular person in the world. Everyone knew Holyfield. George Foreman, Ali etc. Wlad chose to fight in the seclusion of Germany and out of the world public eye.

[greg]

You could walk the streets of NYC and show people Wlad's picture and they wouldn't know who the heck he is. Sad. Sad. Sad. When Tyson was champion, he was the most popular person in the world. Everyone knew Holyfield. George Foreman, Ali etc. Wlad chose to fight in the seclusion of Germany and out of the world public eye.

..come on, boxing is not American football..its geography goes far beyond one single country, in fact it encompasses almost the whole world..although not being known on the streets of New York might be frustrating to some, it doesn't make this very person any less popular in the rest of the world and that is a huge achievement in itself..

[punchoutsb]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

I'm not sure I've ever seen anything as pathetic as the levels of hatred, obsession and jealousy you have for a man you've never met.

I do not hate Wlad at all. From what i've read and been told, the guy has been philanthropic with his riches and done some good outside the ring so i'll never hate someone with heart enough to share like that. I just really really dislike what he did with one of the most treasured positions in sports..period.

The Heavyweight Champion of the World used to be the top of the top....that was better than a president or dictator...it used to have prestige and mystique. You could walk the streets of NYC and show people Wlad's picture and they wouldn't know who the heck he is. Sad. Sad. Sad. When Tyson was champion, he was the most popular person in the world. Everyone knew Holyfield. George Foreman, Ali etc. Wlad chose to fight in the seclusion of Germany and out of the world public eye.

No point trying to dispute your hatred for the man because your belittling of him has transcended the ring; I've seen you question/mock his ability to speak languages, his PhD, his personality, etc etc etc. You hate him cuz you ain't him. But hey, at least you got live five or six replies in this thread. That attention should make you happy

[montrealsuper]

First time in history a supposed world title challenger goes back to work weeks later as a sparring partner? Oh yeah that's right - Washington was hired by Haymon to serve as Wilder's sparring partner and he's back to work again - If there was any doubt Washington was a fixed sparring partner for Wilder there shouldn't be any now -

[Impractical Poster]

I'm sure that Wlad is a hoot in training camp with that fantastic personality of his. I wonder if Gerald gets a heavy bag confused with Wlad some days. Maybe he says "good morning" to the heavy bag by mistake thinking it was Wlad.

I'm looking forward to seeing Wlad crawling for the ring ropes in this one on multiple occasions. Can't wait.

Very good sir. Gave me a good chuckle today.