Sky Sports says Klitschko-Joshua II is on

[Lackeos]

It's pretty amazing to see how much Wlad is willing to give back to the division. He doesn't need the money, and he could've retired a few fights ago on top of the world. But f*ck that, he wants to learn new lessons and win improbable rematches like Rocky, make more entertaining fights than he ever gave before, and give the young lions the opportunity for instant greatness that Lennox never gave him. I don't think he has RJJ / Holyfield syndrome; he's just leaving the division in better shape than he found it.

[Tanzio]

It will be funny as hell if Wlad wins.

What a stupid fight he fought when he had Joshua basically out on his feet for 2-3 rounds. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He could have, and should have finished him. Not sure if he will get a chance like that again.

Coulda, shoulda, bullsh!t. Wlad had also been dropped hard. He did try to get AJ out of there. AJ's survival skills were excellent and he got himself back into the fight.

Wlad fought a great fight that he just could NOT finish. Maybe he can change that next time.

[Kalan]

I don't think [Klitschko] has RJJ / Holyfield syndrome

Actually, I think that's definitely a problem with Wladimir. The attention and adulation a championship caliber Heavyweight gets is addicting. After they retire they go to fights just to drink some of it in. When you're walking down the street or go into a bar and nobody recognizes you it's an empty feeling.

You know if you fight again there'll be stories about you in the paper and pictures of you all over the Internet. You'll be doing interviews and basking in the limelight again. Several times Robinson said he was done with Boxing for good, but he came back. Tunney said it was easy to quit at a young age because his identity wasn't caught up in a boxing ring but in other pursuits. That's great advice for fighters who are getting drubbed because they're well past their prime. Most things in this world have nothing to do with Boxing. You'll never catch note of them if you're not out and about or curious enough.

[candyslim]

Klitschko should have been wise enough to either retire or have a farewell fight with someone he can still beat like Parker.

I'm not going to enjoy seeing him KOed by Joshua again.

I guess he doesn't have much choice as Joshua seems the only one interested in fighting him. He's far too threatening even at 41 for Wilder. I'm sure it'll be a good fight again, but like you I would far rather see him against one of the other belt-holders. I hope too that this is his last fight.

[SteveO]

Seemingly, the IBF have now given their blessing to the rematch. So AJ's IBF, WBA and IBO titles will all be on the line.
Looks like Pulev will have to wait for his chance until next year.

http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12 ... ko-rematch

[Kalan]

Sugar Ray Robinson in his 40's wasn't making a lot of money... Foreman in his mid 40's scored that miracle upset over Moorer -- and then milked that title for a few more years, carefully selecting challengers.. Holmes kept fighting into his 50's because people were still turning out.. Nobody is going to pay Wladimir 10's of millions to fight anyone else.. or to do something else.. This is the business aspect of Boxing -- it's how you make your living

[man]

wlad has cojones.

[Dixonian]

Klitschko should have been wise enough to either retire or have a farewell fight with someone he can still beat like Parker.

I'm not going to enjoy seeing him KOed by Joshua again.

Quite right. Joshua learned so much from that fight, he'll be better prepared this time. Odds will be massively stacked against old Wlad.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I've got to give was big props. He could easily retire.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Sugar Ray Robinson in his 40's wasn't making a lot of money... Foreman in his mid 40's scored that miracle upset over Moorer -- and then milked that title for a few more years, carefully selecting challengers.. Holmes kept fighting into his 50's because people were still turning out.. Nobody is going to pay Wladimir 10's of millions to fight anyone else.. or to do something else.. This is the business aspect of Boxing -- it's how you make your living

What has made way more money than most. He doesn't need the money or like foreman did in his comeback have anything left to prove. George retired in his prime after only a couple of losses.

[VanDeLue]

It will be funny as hell if Wlad wins.

What a stupid fight he fought when he had Joshua basically out on his feet for 2-3 rounds. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He could have, and should have finished him. Not sure if he will get a chance like that again.

You´ve never been in a ring for sure....

[Enlightened-One]

Klitschko-Joshua II is now official

No official announcement about the Joshua-Klitschko rematch has been made, because Wladimir has not yet released a public statement about his future and nor do we have a date or venue for the fight either.

For sure, Klitschko to very likely to choose to continue his career, but we don’t know for certain whether this is actually his intention.

Therefore, why are people boldly proclaiming that the Joshua-Klitschko rematch has been officially announced when even Eddie Hearn is unable to provide confirmation that this is actually the case?

From what I’ve read today, Klitschko says that he’ll make an official statement in regards to his future in two weeks’ time.

[Kalan]

Sugar Ray Robinson in his 40's wasn't making a lot of money... Foreman in his mid 40's scored that miracle upset over Moorer -- and then milked that title for a few more years, carefully selecting challengers.. Holmes kept fighting into his 50's because people were still turning out.. Nobody is going to pay Wladimir 10's of millions to fight anyone else.. or to do something else.. This is the business aspect of Boxing -- it's how you make your living

Wlad has made way more money than most. He doesn't need the money or like foreman did in his comeback have anything left to prove. George retired in his prime after only a couple of losses.

But Foreman was always very dissatisfied with the way he fought Ali and Young. He felt he could have won those fights if he boxed smarter, with more patience, picked his shots better, used better pacing, and acquired better skills. Memories ate at him at night. Sometimes when he watched a fight he’d grit his teeth when he saw reckless punching and guys getting blasted with counters. For years and years he would always talk a lot about coming back, but life was too easy and he was so far out of shape it was ridiculous.

Finally he couldn’t take it. He picked up the phone and called a promoter. “Are you in shape to fight George?” .... “No. Find me somebody where I don’t have to be in shape.” ... That's not an exact quote, but it went something like that... His plan was to start out all over again – like a kid just turning pro, learning how to box, and doing it the right way.

[Evander]

Sounds very much to me like a deal Isn't done at this point, they're in talks over the next few weeks aren't they ?

[Oben321]

The fight is not official.
Klitschko needs another two weeks to decide...
I personally do not believe he should fight a young lion like Joshua again although I most certainly would watch it if he did.

Everybody keeps talking about how Klitschko let AJ off the hook. I don't believe it! He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off.
We were treated to a phenomenal Heavyweight matchup. No doubt about it...
Both fighters should and have been commended for such a truly spectacular & entertaining event.
In my opinion, AJ gained a helluva a lot more experience from the fight and will present an even greater challenge for Wladimir moving forward in a possible rematch.

I got a hunch that Wladimir will not partake in another fight with AJ.

[Evander]

Depends on what the options are, keep an open mind and talk to everyone.

[candyslim]

Everybody keeps talking about how Klitschko let AJ off the hook. I don't believe it! He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off.

Not trying to be a smartarse but "He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off". Doesn't that mean he let him off the hook? Nobody is saying he did it deliberately

[caldo2025]

It's pretty amazing to see how much Wlad is willing to give back to the division. He doesn't need the money, and he could've retired a few fights ago on top of the world. But f*ck that, he wants to learn new lessons and win improbable rematches like Rocky, make more entertaining fights than he ever gave before, and give the young lions the opportunity for instant greatness that Lennox never gave him. I don't think he has RJJ / Holyfield syndrome; he's just leaving the division in better shape than he found it.

I wish i could disagree with you because I disliked Wlad so much before this last fight for what he did to the division all of those years. But that was as gutsy a display of heart that i've ever seen in the sport a few months ago. At first, I was hoping he'd just go out on that note because he went out like an absolute warrior and that's how you want a champion to go out, not like RJJR is doing right now or how Ali went out. Not that i'm comparing Wlad to either but I just have a feeling that Wlad will not come close to the performance he put in the first fight. I hope that i'm wrong but it was a great note for him to slip out into the sunset and put a cap on a career. I don't want to see him BHopped through the ropes

[littlepug]

Everybody keeps talking about how Klitschko let AJ off the hook. I don't believe it! He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off.

Not trying to be a smartarse but "He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off". Doesn't that mean he let him off the hook? Nobody is saying he did it deliberately

I would rather say that Joshua wriggled off the hook. As for the rematch history tells us that the result will be repeated but quicker

[candyslim]

That's what I'm expecting but it's not a gimme by any means.

[Oben321]

Everybody keeps talking about how Klitschko let AJ off the hook. I don't believe it! He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off.

Not trying to be a smartarse but "He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off". Doesn't that mean he let him off the hook? Nobody is saying he did it deliberately

I appreciate your response and understand your angle.
However, "not being able to pull it off" & "letting him off the hook" is not the same.
He clearly tried to press AJ after the knockdown.
Nevertheless, his calculated efforts were not enough to break AJ's will. That's the difference!

[Oben321]

Everybody keeps talking about how Klitschko let AJ off the hook. I don't believe it! He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off.

Not trying to be a smartarse but "He had his opportunity yet couldn't pull it off". Doesn't that mean he let him off the hook? Nobody is saying he did it deliberately

I would rather say that Joshua wriggled off the hook. As for the rematch history tells us that the result will be repeated but quicker

I concur.

[candyslim]

Now that's a semantic argument that might well go to a split decision, but I appreciate your explanation.

[matthewcb]

This reminds me of the Matthew Saad Muhammed vs John Conteh pair of fights.

First one: really good, close battle. Second: very one sided.

Wlad should walk away now with his reputation intact, enhanced even. Getting a worse beating second time around will just lead people to think he was the beneficiary of Joshua's lack of experience for the first bout.

[David.skold]

dosen't AJ have better thing to do then a rematch? not a fan of a rematch unless it's a slipt or draw in a good fight.