Some
boxing legends, as well as enthusiasts across the globe on Sunday, hailed the
victory of Anthony Joshua over Wladimir Klitschko.
Joshua became the
unified heavyweight world champion by adding the WBA belt to his IBF title,
with an 11th-round stoppage of Wladimir Klitschko in a thrilling fight on
Saturday at Wembley.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 27-year-old was earlier sent to the canvass in
the sixth round,but had Klitschko on the canvas twice in the penultimate
rounds, before the referee stepped in.
A cross section of boxing
legends and enthusiasts who wrote on their twitter handles, noted that the
match was an epic encounter between two great boxers who gave spectators, ‘a
run for their money’.
Former heavyweight
champion Lennox Lewis said: “Crackin’ Fight! Congrats to both for giving the
fans something to talk about! Big up to AJ on the big win! How much heart did
Klitschko show in this fight?”.
American boxing great
Sugar Ray Leonard described the encounter as an “an amazing fight, with
two great fighters”, adding, “Lot of heart by both fighters. A lot of
questions answered by Anthony Joshua.”
As for former world
champion Frank Bruno, “the heavyweight division just got very exciting,” noting
that “the performance of both men tonight was incredible.”
Also, former Olympic
heptathlon champion, Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill was so thrilled by the encounter
that he described it as “incredible” and “unbelievable.”
“What an absolute
legend! Unbelievable fight! So proud of @anthonyfjoshua. I’m exhausted just
watching. Incredible!,” he twitted.
Three-time Formula 1
champion, Lewis Hamilton, congratulated the two fighters but gave Joshua an
edge.
“Well done to both
Anthony and Wladmir, but a huge congrats to @anthonyfjoshua for bringing it
home! Great fight! #bigupyourself,” he said.
Former England
footballer, Michael Owen was full of feelings of patriotism for his motherland
as he twitted that “Great Britain aged five years during that fifth round,” but
thanked God that “Joshua found a second wind from somewhere.”
For Gary Linker, a renowned
sports pundit,”so gripping was the fight that all three of us in the @BBCMOTD
studio jumped up when @anthonyjoshua won.”
NAN
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