Wladimir Klitschko retires

[ILikeBeer]

Wladimir Klitschko has decided to retire from boxing, rendering a potential rematch with Anthony Joshua moot.
The Ukrainian was defeated by Joshua in a heavyweight blockbuster back in April and the Brit was eyeing another colossal bout in Las Vegas on November 11.
But the 41-year-old has decided to call time on his 21-year career, ending any talk of another showdown with AJ.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing ... z4og8CwUCm

[ShadrachSimmo]

Fair play to him. For all his tedious and boring defences he went out with a bit of a bang.

Hearn and Joshua won't be too happy though the rematch would have earned a few bob.

[Boxerbeetle]

Good decision, and leaves some good memories amidst the tedium.

[Stuffs]

Definitely the right decision.

[asdfjkl]

To bad he wasted this much time, I hope AJ will fight Ortiz now.
Wlad still earned a massive respect for his carreer.

[Loynesy]

He's earned the right to take his time. I'm sure AJ will be a little frustrated, but it's not dissimilar to Lennox taking his time about retiring after fighting Vitali

[keirw]

Good, he was miles past his best and likely to take a bit of a beating in a Joshua rematch.

He had a very successful career, although he won't be remembered as fondly as many other heavyweights, he was the best of his generation, a hall of famer and a very wealthy man.

I wish him all the best in the future.

[rm1]

Wise move he didn't need another pounding from AJ also opens up the H/W scene a bit. AJ v Pulev now ?

[sweetscience]

I hope AJ will fight Ortiz now.
.

why ?

he is vastly overrated & AJ would beat him easily

[ILikeBeer]

Slight shame there was no AJ rematch, after the first fight.

Saying that, I can understand why the fight didn't hold too much appeal to Klitschko. He's 41, already secured a legacy, and had lost his last two. Would it have been worth sticking around, just for one last pay day? I dare say he's not short of a few bob.

[Ossyrules]

So much respect for him during the Joshua fight. Enjoy retirement wlad

[Horse]

Good, he was miles past his best and likely to take a bit of a beating in a Joshua rematch.

He would have had a very good chance in the rematch.

[ILikeBeer]

He's earned the right to take his time. I'm sure AJ will be a little frustrated, but it's not dissimilar to Lennox taking his time about retiring after fighting Vitali

Probably not that big a deal in the long run.

Yes a rematch would've been lucrative, but Joshua is a massive draw in his own right. Even more so now he has the Klitschko win on his resume. He could sell out a stadium if he was fighting a ham sandwich, so it's not like Hearn can't still milk him for money.

[stellar]

fornicate shame

[Cholo_cws]

I wouldn't be overly surprised if he returns next year at just the right time for a stadium fight to be made against Joshua.

If not then I hope he enjoys his retirement. I wasn't a big fan of his but there were some aspects of him that I'll miss. The heavyweight division would have been an even bigger mess without him and generally he carried himself with a bit of class.

[chinarich]

A good decision, I thought that he would have a decent chance in the rematch but the threat of ending his career with three straight defeats (albeit in world title fights) was certainly there and he evidently didn't fancy that. I know he's earned a lot of money in his career but it takes a strong character to turn down the amount he would have got for fighting AJ again...

[CHRIS TARRANT]

Never heard of him

[Manchester Massive]

Good, he was miles past his best and likely to take a bit of a beating in a Joshua rematch.

He would have had a very good chance in the rematch.

He would have had a decent chance but I'd still think more likely that Joshua stopped him again

[Taansend]

Irony. Gets more respect for his final fight - a kayo loss - than his decade long reign.

Best of luck with the rest of your life Wlad

[handsofstone]

I wouldve loved a rematch with Joshua but Wlad's a smart guy, he must've knew the time was right to bow out, as Taanesnd mentioned above, finally he's getting the respect he deserved, people can criticise his CV but he fought the best of what was available, he showed long before the Joshua fight he had heart, especially in the 1st Peter fight, he had a suspect chin and altered his style to a more safety first style to get the longevity most other fighters could only dream of


He's a credit to boxing and I wish him well in retirement

[tobyh5]

Fair play to him, certainly earned the right to his retirement on his own terms and he is worthy of more respect. He may not have entertained or fought in a style we wanted but he recognised his limitations (kinda obvious when dropped and KO'd a few times) and came up with a way to continue to collect "W"s

But I am pissed as I have dreamt of Vegas for a fight for 30 years and timing, lack of funds, kids etc over the years have never made it possible, now I can and had it semi planned, it does not happen

[Horse]

why ?

he is vastly overrated & AJ would beat him easily

And who else is there for Joshua?

1. Tyson Fury - Unavailable
2. Wladimir Klitschko - Retired
3. Alexander Povetkin - Drugs Ban?
4. Deontay Wilder - Got a rubbish mandatory to fight
5. Kubrat Pulev
6. Joseph Parker - Got to fight Hughie First
7. Luis Ortiz
8. Andy Ruiz Jr
9. Carlos Takam
10. Dilian Whyte II

11. Derek Chisora
12. Tony Bellew
13. David Haye
14. Jarrell Miller
15. Christian Hammer


The Wladimir rematch was by far the best available fight for Joshua.

Ortiz looks like a pretty good opponent considering what's available.

[dirk2686]

I'd like Joshua to fight Ortiz as he seems farcically overrated and I think Joshua destroys him, yet he's seen as this massively avoided, absolutely deadly fighter.

[keirw]

Good, he was miles past his best and likely to take a bit of a beating in a Joshua rematch.

He would have had a very good chance in the rematch.

He would have a chance, certainly. But my money would be on the younger, fresher fighter prevailing in equally (if not more) brutal fashion as the first encounter.

[Taansend]

Fair play to him, certainly earned the right to his retirement on his own terms and he is worthy of more respect. He may not have entertained or fought in a style we wanted but he recognised his limitations (kinda obvious when dropped and KO'd a few times) and came up with a way to continue to collect "W"s

But I am pissed as I have dreamt of Vegas for a fight for 30 years and timing, lack of funds, kids etc over the years have never made it possible, now I can and had it semi planned, it does not happen

I almost booked flights last week.

Next year for the Wilder fight eh