I'm a big Joshua fan and being from the UK I should have been behind him lastnight but my heart was well and truly with Wlad. I'm gutted because I believe it's one he let slip away, he had the fight over but couldn't get him out of there. I think he was looking for that perfect shot and had the mindset that it was just a matter of time. You don't get payed for overtime in this game especially against a young and dangerous opponent. Wlad showed real grit and courage in there but I can't shake off this bitter feeling because he should have been the victor IMO.
Wlad gave it all he could and came up short. AJ was too much for him. The better man won the fight. Both put in great performances and in the post-fight conference I even heard German media saying that this was possibly Wlad's best performance.
A little and I was rooting for AJ. He definitely missed an opportunity in those middle rounds and even after that he came so close to victory. It's always sad to see an old fighter perhaps fight their last fight and I'm sure after he has retired he'll be looked upon more favourably.
AJ won because he went for it and had more fighting spirit. I don't feel sorry for Klitschko at all. I am glad the boring Klitschko era is over!
Yes, but I probably would have felt more gutted for him if he'd been blasted out in a one-sided fight as many AJ supporters were insisting he would be. I know, these types of losses are even more heartbreaking because he came so close and dug so deep and perhaps let his opponent off the hook when he shouldn't have, but at least he came to the fight as a decent version of Wladimir Klitschko and not a complete shell. He proved a lot of people wrong. I wanted Klitschko to win precisely because I know a loss for AJ wouldn't have been so bad in the long run. In fact, if AJ had lost last night he'd still have a bright future.
I felt completely gutted as well. I expected Joshua to get the KO as Wlad is just too old. I had even decided I "wanted" Joshua to win as I felt it would be better for boxing. But I didn't expect Wlad to come so close and try so hard. I found myself rooting for Wlad and cheering him on. Was truly heartbreaking when the inevitable happened. Poor ****ing Wlad. King for 10 years. Taking on all challengers until his body finally failed him.
