Joshua, the 2012 Olympic champ, floored Klitschko in the fifth round and finished his rival in the 11th with two knockdowns before the fight was stopped.
“I’m a little bit emotional,” Joshua said. “I dug deep. I’m only going to improve. Boxing is about character. When you go into the trenches, that’s where you find out who you are.”
Joshua looked set to finish his rival earlier, only for the giant Ukranian to mount a stirring comeback, producing a knockdown of his own in the sixth round.
“I’m not perfect, but I’m trying, and if you don’t take part, you’re going to fail,” Joshua said.
He improved to 19-0 with 19 knockouts.
With his brother Vitali Klitschko screaming encouragement from the corner, Klitschko looked the fresher main in the middle to late rounds, despite, at 41, being 14 years older than the Brit.
The showdown turned into a grueling struggle, with the fireworks of found five and six having taken their toll.
“The best man won,” Klitschko said. “Anthony was better than I. It was really sad I didn’t make it tonight. I really wanted it. He got up, he fought back, he won the contest.”
Klitschko was fighting for the first fight since losing his titles to Tyson Fury in 2015 after a 9½-year run as champ.
Klitschko has the contractual right to a rematch with Joshua, who said after the fight he would like to fight Klitschko, Fury or anybody else for that matter.
“Tyson Fury, where you at baby? Is that what you want to see?” Joshua said. “I just want to fight everyone. I’m really enjoying this”
Article Appeared @https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/boxing/2017/04/29/anthony-joshua-beats-wladimir-klitschko-epic-heavyweight-fight/101077170/