Heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua has the world at his feet

Joshua fells Molina to set up mammoth clash with Klitschko

12 December

After making short work of Eric Molina at Manchester's MEN Arena on Saturday night, British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua can now focus on his mammoth fight with Wladimir Klitschko.

Joshua's three-round demolition of the US challenger was "overshadowed" by confirmation that the "biggest fight in British history" will take place on 29 April at Wembley Stadium, says Ron Lewis of The Times.

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"It is a bout that will smash records," he adds. "It is estimated that it will draw revenue of more than £40m, a crowd of 90,000 will watch live - 10,000 more than saw Carl Froch and George Groves at Wembley in 2014 - the pay-per-view television audience, the worldwide television rights will also break anything seen before for a bout in Britain."

Joshua will have to up his game against Klitschko, who joined his rival in the ring after Saturday's fight.

Things are about to get "serious" for the British fighter, says Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian.

"The improvements will be incremental. When Molina left his chin hanging in round three, Joshua crashed a right hand of chilling impact on to it, leaving his reluctant opponent sprawled in his own corner. But he knows that Klitschko, who has not fought since Tyson Fury took his titles in November 2015, will provide an altogether more searching examination of his will and his skills."

The clash "could be Joshua’s defining fight", says Paul Hayward of the Daily Telegraph. But he adds: "No British fighter has seemed more serenely self-possessed or devoted to his mission on the eve of a bout that could elevate him to global renown."

It will be a battle between youth and experience. Klitschko will be 41 by the time the two men meet, but he has 64 victories from 68 contests. Joshua, 27, now has 18 wins since taking gold at the London Olympics in 2012.

Saturday's win was, as expected, straightforward and less of a spectacle than the brutal 12-round WBC world heavyweight eliminator between Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora, which was won by Whyte in a split decision.

Molina was content to spoil in the opening two rounds and barely threw a punch, leaving Joshua frustrated.

But he "finally found his range in the third, with a devastating outcome", says Ben Dirs of the BBC. "With Molina pinned in the corner, Joshua chopped him down with a short overhand right and it was a minor miracle that he managed to regain his feet. But the American only lasted a few more seconds, referee Steve Gray calling a halt to proceedings as Joshua was raining blows upon the challenger."

WBA finally sanctions Joshua vs Klitschko showdown in 2017

2 November

British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will fight American Eric Molina in Manchester on 10 December after his proposed bout with Wladimir Klitschko was called off.

But the pressure on Joshua to maintain his unbeaten record next month has been increased, with the WBA belatedly announcing it will sanction a fight between the Briton and Klitschko early next year.

Joshua had hoped to fight former champion Klitschko next month, but the bout was put on ice amid wrangling over which belts would be up for grabs. Klitschko had made it clear that he was only interested in fighting if the WBA title was on the line, and he pulled the plug when a calf strain interrupted his training with the matter still unresolved.

Now, a day after Joshua agreed to fight an alternative opponent, the WBA has said it will, after all, sanction a fight between the Briton and the Ukrainian - but not until next year and only if Joshua beats Molina next month.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, welcomed the decision. "It was beautiful to finally see the WBA's decision last night finally allowing the Joshua vs Klitschko fight for the spring," he told Sky Sport.

"The only thing in AJ's way is Eric Molina and the full focus must be on the toughest fight of his career... Wladimir will be ringside with his fingers crossed and victory for AJ will set up this mega fight in March or April 2017."

With the heavyweight division in even more disarray than usual following Tyson Fury's decision to vacate his titles and seek treatment for mental health issues, the prospect of a bout between Joshua and Klitschko is a "significant development", says Dan Rafael of ESPN.

The fight could also restore some order to the tarnished sport, hopes Ben Dirs of the BBC.

"Some have accused Klitschko of attempting to duck Joshua and bringing shame to himself and the once great heavyweight division," he says. "But the real problem here isn't Klitschko... it is the lawless world of boxing, in which sheriff's badges are handed out like Smarties.

"Fury's victory over Klitschko [in 2015] looked like it would bring continuity and clarity to the heavyweight division. But Fury's fall from grace - if you could ever call him gracious in the first place - has created an unseemly, confusing free-for-all."

But boxing fans will be hoping Joshua can see off Molina next month to set up what Rafel calls "the most anticipated match in the heavyweight division" - although he warns that despite all the talk the two sides must still finalise a deal.

Wladimir Klitschko will fight Anthony Joshua 'in March'

27 October

Wladimir Klitschko says he is determined to face British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a few months' time, despite their proposed fight on 10 December being called off this week.

The Ukrainian, who has not stepped into the ring since losing his IBF, WBO and WBA titles to Tyson Fury last November, told the German newspaper Bild that he intended to take on Joshua in March or April next year. "That'll be the biggest heavyweight fight for years and hopefully it'll be for three titles," he said.

Although he turns 41 next year, Klitschko said that he had not thought of retiring.

""I've never thought about stopping, not once, after the defeat and losing my belts," he said. "As long as I can perform in the ring, am fit and motivated, I'll keep going. There will be a couple of big, spectacular fights with me in the ring."

The fight is likely to take place on 4 March at the O2 Arena in east London, claims The Times, which reports that the venue has already been booked by Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn, who had been hoping to set up a bout between David Haye and Tony Bellew.

The postponement of December's fight capped "a turbulent month for the heavyweight division, which has seen Tyson Fury relinquishing two of the four heavyweight belts, and confusion surrounding which contenders will contest the vacant titles", says Gareth A Davies of the Daily Telegraph.

And there could still be bumps in the road. The December fight was thrown into doubt by the lack of a decision from the WBA over whether its title would be on the line before Klitschko injured his calf.

Joshua vs Klitschko fight off: Boxing is a 'laughing stock'

25 October

British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua will not fight Wladimir Klitschko in December after the ageing Ukrainian suffered a "minor injury" in training.

The pair had bee duen to meet in Manchester on 10 December, but the fight, already in doubt because of confusion about whether the WBA title vacated by Tyson Fury earlier this month would be up for grabs, has now been postponed until next year.

News of Klitschko's injury, believed to be a calf problem, emerged over the weekend and prompted Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn to pull the plug.

"While waiting on the WBA and with Klitschko's injury, it was a non-starter," said Hearn. "Let's get this over the line for March or April."

He is now hunting for a new opponent for Joshua, the IBF heavyweight champion, for 10 December, and hopes to announce a date with Klitschko later this week, reports the BBC. That bout could be the Ukrainian's first since November last year when he suffered a shock defeat to Fury.

However, Klitschko could elect to fight another opponent, most likely Australian Lucas Browne, if the WBA title is up for grabs.

Kevin Mitchell of The Guardian is unimpressed. "On the verge of the pantomime season boxing is again a laughing stock, like a tottering, rouge‑cheeked dame with a glass of sherry in one hand and a string of broken promises in the other," he says.

"Klitschko clearly does not want anything to do with Joshua, who would knock him out, probably within six rounds, whatever the sales talk that this is an even-money contest."

As for Joshua, a fight against David Price, the former British and Commonwealth champion, or Eric Molina, a former WBC title challenger, look the most likely options, says The Times.

Joshua vs Klitschko: Fight in doubt over WBA belt wrangle

19 October

British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua's hopes of fighting Wladimir Klitschko in December hang in the balance amid wrangling over which belts will be up for grabs.

It was reported on Monday that the terms of the fight, to be held on 10 December in Manchester had been agreed. But now the Daily Star reports "Klitschko's camp are insisting the fight will only go ahead if Joshua's IBF title and the WBA crown is on the line".

Joshua won the IBF title in April, but the WBA title is currently unclaimed after Tyson Fury gave up his belts last week.

"The intention was to fight for Joshua's IBF title and the vacant WBA belt, but the WBA have dragged their heels, putting the fight at risk," says Daily Mail.

If the WBA does not sanction the showdown, Klitschko could choose to fight another opponent as he wants that title more. That has prompted promoter Eddie Hearn to sound out other possibilities for Joshua.

"With reports circulating that Klitschko has lined up an alternative fight in Germany, Hearn has been forced to draw up a list of replacement opponents, but remains hopeful the 40-year-old will battle Joshua instead of a 'soft touch'," reports Sky Sports.

But he vowed that Joshua would go into the ring on 10 December.

Part of the problem appears to be that the WBA has two heavyweight titles - super and regular - and both are vacant. Fury has relinquished the super title and Australian Lucas Browne was stripped of the regular title after failing a drugs test in March.

However, he is now able to fight again and is demanding a shot at the more prestigious super title against Klitschko.

It has been suggested that the Ukrainian would welcome a fight against Browne, as he would be favourite to win and could then plan a unification fight with Joshua in 2017.

The situation for Joshua is "complex" says the Daily Telegraph, as several alternative opponents, including New Zealander Joseph Parker, have already lined up other title shots. It could even mean a fight against David Haye.

"Whether Hearn is happy to match Joshua with Haye this year remains to be seen," says the paper. "It would still generate huge interest, if not having quite the draw as Joshua-Klitschko."

Joshua vs Klitschko: How many belts will be up for grabs?

17 October

Anthony Joshua is on the verge of agreeing a showdown with former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, with the IBF heavyweight crown and at least one of the belts vacated by Tyson Fury last week up for grabs.

Promoter Eddie Hearn says the fighters have "agreed" to the clash, which is expected to take place in Manchester on 10 December, reports Gareth A Davies of the Daily Telegraph. The two camps are now trying to secure as many belts as possible.

"The £30m showdown is to be formally announced this week, and will include a rematch clause, with Joshua's International Boxing Federation crown, the lesser International Boxing Organisation title, and potentially the World Boxing Association belt... the growing spoils for a contest in which the protagonists will share an estimated £15m purse," says Davies.

That amount of money would make it the "richest heavyweight fight ever held on British soil", says the Daily Mail.

The paper adds that another former British heavyweight champion, David Haye, is backing Joshua to win.

"Haye believes it will be a case of easy money for Joshua, against the spent force of Klitschko, who has not boxed since losing to Fury in Germany last November," it says, adding the former boxer believes "Joshua is the man to usher in the new generation of heavyweights and likened the upcoming clash to the sad finale of Muhammad Ali's career in 1981".

Klitschko is now 40, the same age as Ali when he fought Trevor Berbick in the Bahamas. The older boxer was badly beaten over ten rounds and never fought again.

However, Klitschko is adamant he still has what it takes to win back his heavyweight titles against 27-year-old Joshua and it is the "fight the world is waiting for", according to John Dennen of Boxing News.

He adds that in addition to the issue with the belts, the usual wrangling over TV rights has delayed the announcement.

"Even though this is a huge fight for Britain and Europe, one of sticking points was actually the US broadcaster," he says. "Joshua has a deal with Showtime, Klitschko is with HBO."