Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko drops huge comeback hint

The former heavyweight champion announced his retirement in August 2017 after he was knocked out in the 11th round by Joshua at Wembley earlier that year.

Joshua, meanwhile, has been searching for a new opponent ahead of his first fight in the United States after Jarrell Miller was forced to pull out due to three failed drugs tests.

In March, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Klitschko had held ‘exploratory’ talks about a possible comeback.

Wladimir Klitschko backs Anthony Joshua to beat Joseph Parker

Klitschko, who retired after being knocked out by Joshua in their April fight at Wembley, says he is comfortable with his decision to step away from the boxing ring and believes Joshua is the fighter to carry the glamour division forward.

"I have passed the torch to the younger lion," Klitschko told The Sun.

"I wish, from the bottom of my heart, he continues to carry this torch for a long time and is very successful just like I was. Joshua is capable of unifying the division, absolutely."

Parker trickier than Wladimir Klitschko- Peter Fury

Peter Fury masterminded his nephew Tyson Fury's stunning win over Klitschko in December 2015, a result that blew the division open after 11 years of dominance by the giant Ukrainian.

Now Peter Fury is hoping his son Hughie will beat WBO champion Parker in Manchester on Sunday (NZT) and return the belt to the family.

Peter Fury might have been rudely dismissive of Parker's promoter David Higgins in an expletive riddled send-off as they argued over the British referee controlling this fight, but he had nothing but praise for the 25-year-old New Zealand boxer.

Klitschko happy with boxing career

Up until April 2015, Klitschko had only lost three of his 67 professional fights, but he was then beaten by two British fighters - Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

His final defeat to Joshua at Wembley was considered by many as a classic heavyweight title fight, with both men sent to the canvas during the bout.

However, in the 11th round there was no way back for Klitschko as Joshua unleashed a barrage of punches that left the Ukrainian beaten.

Klitschko's legacy enhances boxing

After listing a diverse range of achievements and business interests, the 41-year-old former two-time world heavyweight champion concluded: "I was capable of doing all this because of the global appeal of the sport of boxing."

Adding "the sport of" before mentioning the name of his chosen profession is a long-established conversational tick of Floyd Mayweather Jr's – an attempt to saddle his perpetual campaign of self-aggrandisement with a sense of higher purpose benefiting the noble art as a whole.

Joshua-Klitschko II 'pencilled in' for November 11 – Hearn

Joshua holds the IBF, IBO and WBA (super) heavyweight belts after knocking out Klitschko in the 11th round of a thrilling contest at Wembley Stadium in April.

Last month, Hearn confirmed Las Vegas was the front-runner to host a rematch and it now appears an official announcement of the fight's location and date may not be long in coming.

Hearn told Sky Sports News: "I've been in Vegas with AJ, officially applying for my Nevada boxing license to promote there and that went well.

Joshua-Klitschko II could be heading for Las Vegas

Joshua retained his IBF crown and gained the WBA and lesser-regarded IBO belts by stopping Klitschko in the 11th round of an epic battle at Wembley Stadium in April.

The champion is awaiting a decision on the second bout from the 41-year-old Ukrainian, who hinted at retirement following just his fifth career defeat in London.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has held discussions with Klitschko's manager Bernd Bonte and feels a Las Vegas bout could be the key to locking the fight in, though Nigeria, Dubai and Cardiff are also in the hosting mix.

Anthony Joshua keen on Wladimir Klitschko rematch

Joshua defeated 41-year-old Klitshcko after 11 rounds in British boxing's biggest bout to extend his winning streak to 19 fights. Klitschko's record now stands at 64 wins to five losses.

A clause in their contract allows the beaten fighter to ask for a rematch, but Klitschko said he would take some time before making a decision.

"A rematch will be good, because of the type of fight we had," Joshua said.

Klitschko 'one punch' from knocking Joshua out

Both men had to climb off the canvas in an 11-round epic in front of 90,000 at Wembley, but Joshua had the lasting power to pummel Klitschko late on and add the WBA title and less revered IBO belt to his IBF crown.

Klitschko recovered from tasting canvas in the fifth to send Joshua to a first career knockdown a round later, although the Ukrainian veteran could not capitalise and the Brit was able to recover ahead of his late onslaught.

Anthony Joshua can become biggest star in boxing, says promoter Eddie Hearn

IBF champion Joshua can add the WBA 'super' title with victory over Klitschko in Saturday's heavyweight unification clash, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

A record crowd of 90,000 will attend the fight, which will also be watched by a worldwide audience on television, and Hearn believes the unbeaten 27-year-old could soon be recognised as the most marketable figure in the sport.

"He becomes the biggest star in British sport and the biggest star in world boxing," Hearn told Sky Sports. "It's early in his career, it's his 19th fight, so masses of pressure."