Saturday’s fight between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko represents the eighth between a British heavyweight and one of the Klitschko brothers. Vitali and Wladimir possess a combined winning record of 5-2 against their British opponents.
Vitali v Lennox Lewis (Los Angeles, June 2003)
In the last fight of his illustrious career, Lewis was severely tested throughout the opening rounds by the elder Klitschko until eventually winning via stoppage. A cut that had opened by the Ukrainian’s left eye in the third round eventually become too deep and, for all that Lewis was struggling, the ringside doctor insisted Klitschko was in no position to fight on.
Wladimir v David Haye (Hamburg, July 2011)
Perhaps the biggest fight in the heavyweight division since Lewis fought Mike Tyson in 2002, and so far the defining one of Wladimir’s career as he claimed a one-sided points victory. Despite a belief Haye possessed the power and speed to overcome him, Klitschko defended himself brilliantly to dictate the fight, at the end of which Haye complained of an injured little toe.
Vitali v Dereck Chisora (Munich, February 2012)
In the penultimate fight of Vitali’s career, he showed signs of decline despite earning a comfortable unanimous decision against Chisora, whose resilience widely impressed. Everything in the ring that night was then overshadowed by the challenger’s press conference brawl with Haye.
Vitali v Danny Williams (Las Vegas, December 2004)
Vitali was at his peak the night he convincingly defeated Williams to make the first defence of his WBC title. The Briton suffered a nine-count in the first round, nasty cuts and three further knockdowns until referee Jay Nady waved the action over after the last of those in the eighth.
Wladimir v Tyson Fury (Dusseldorf, November 2015)
As with so many of the Klitschkos’ opponents, Fury was a significant underdog, but he secured one of the finest victories of any British fighter by unexpectedly outpointing champion Wladimir to win the IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles. Saturday’s fight is Klitschko’s first since that night, which ended an unbeaten run of 11 years. Fury has not fought since.
Vitali v Herbie Hide (Millwall, June 1999)
Hide lost his WBO title on the night of his third defence, having been left unable to continue after suffering the second of two second-round knockdowns while being outclassed. The fight lasted a total of four minutes and 14 seconds.
Vitali v Julius Francis (Nordrhein-Westfalen, April 1998)
Similarly to Vitali’s win against Hide, Francis - best known for his fight with Mike Tyson in 2000 - was sent to the canvas three times before losing via stoppage in the second round. The defeat was Francis’ second in succession, after he also lost to Axel Schulz, who two fights later lost to a young Wladimir Klitschko.
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