Anthony Joshua to make history

AJ to triumph in Saturday’s cross-roads fight

Anthony Joshua ducks between the ropes at Wembley stadium in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday knowing that he’ll not only decide his own future, but that of the entire heavyweight division for years to come.

Win and Joshua would’ve arrived at the top, cemented himself as the man to beat, the man to lead the sport into a new era. Lose, well fight fans could be hit with another few years of Klitschko dominance, the very reason many have become bored of the game’s top division.

Plenty of power on show

Saturday’s battle for the WBA, IBF and IBO world heavyweight titles represents a real step-up in class for the fighting pride of Watford. He brings with him a perfect 18 fight career record, with each of those wins coming inside the distance. A 100 per cent knockout average, staggering, pun intended. He has never been beyond seven rounds, taken there twice, by rival Dillian Whyte and Dominic Breazeale. Both brave men, but neither heard an eighth bell, other than the ringing in their ears.

With stats like that it’s little surprise to see Coral traders offer no more than 2/7 on this one not going the difference. This is a meeting of two big hitters, Wlad himself bringing a 78 per cent KO ratio. Patriotic punters will want a piece of our 4/6 on Joshua to win by KO/TKO, while victory by any method is deemed a 2/5 favourite.

Klitschko to use his experience

That’s a brave stance by the market, Klitschko is no mere opponent, despite the pre-fight betting, and will go down in the history books as an all-time great. He has done things in the sport his opponent may never achieve.