Wednesday 26 April 2017 08:11, UK
It's never been done before, so how do you beat Anthony Joshua? We asked some of boxing's best trainers to imagine themselves in Wladimir Klitschko's corner...
I would not be hesitant, and I would not let Joshua get into a rhythm. When the first bell rings I'd like Klitschko to already be half way across the ring.
When the first bell rings I'd like Klitschko to already be half way across the ring.
He needs to put Joshua under pressure with his big frame, and he needs to let his hands go. I'd like to think that, at the end of Wladimir's great career, he won't fight defensively and he will let his hands go. That's the only way he can win.
With Wladimir, he's got to give Joshua stuff that he's not seen in his past 18 fights. Basically, the skill of the game, realising that you can't hit opponents when you think you are going to hit them, realising you are not going to be able to get that big shot off.
Just messing him around, tying him up, using his experience, catching Joshua with clean shots on the way in, softening him up.
Klitschko has got good footwork - use that footwork, keep presenting the angles for Joshua, and keep knocking him about with the jab.
Also, Klitschko has got good footwork - use that footwork, keep presenting the angles for Joshua, and keep knocking him about with the jab. Sooner or later, you've heard the saying: 'They get that many jabs, they are begging for a right hand'. That's Klitschko's style.
I think Klitschko will come out and show something different. I think he will come out also a little bit aggressive, but controlled aggression. I think that's what we are going to see from Klitschko.
The tactics for Klitschko are to do his usual jab and hold. Klitschko knows that Anthony will do most of his damage when he's up close. He's taller than Anthony, which is something that is rare, and will try to pick him off with the jab, nail him with the right hand, and when Anthony gets close, grab and hold him.
He's taller than Anthony, which is something that is rare, and will try to pick him off with the jab.
There is every chance that Klitschko could have success in landing his punches, because this is the first time that Anthony has been made to punch upwards. Joshua needs solid defence and solid movement as he goes forward, because Klitschko will try to go back and walk him onto something big.
If you're Klitschko, you do what you do best. You don't want to fight with Anthony up close. Jab and move, try and walk him onto right hands, and then hold him and smother his work.
I would get Klitschko to keep moving Joshua. Both can win the battle of the jab - Joshua's is more of a dangerous weapon, but Wlad's is more experienced and he's known where and how to land it on different styles. He can use that experience and his good footwork just to keep Joshua moving and use that educated jab to take the fight away.
It is a very heavy jab. It doesn't look as devastating as some jabs but it is very heavy. He has conditioned that left arm to push it out there very forceful. He does it different ways; he sort of fiddles with it, keeps it their face, then pushes it in. AJ's is more traditional, his hands are by his side and he'll piston it out the jab.
Klitschko can use that experience and his good footwork just to keep Joshua moving.
Don't trade with Joshua or get into a firefight too early on. [Klitschko should] take him into the second half of the fight where the speed will have slowed down a bit and then look to assert himself.
Because AJ matches him in size, Klitschko is going to have to be more aggressive. He wasn't aggressive against Tyson Fury but he was against Kubrat Pulev and, if he is more like the fighter that took on Pulev, after a couple of rounds it is going to be very interesting.
The jab is key. Wladimir's jab is very, very good and he needs to control AJ with it. He needs to repeatedly knock AJ's head back with the jab. Everything that Wladimir throws comes off the timing of his jab.
The main thing for Wladimir is to control AJ with the jab. It's a very heavy jab - a fighter will feel it on his nose, it can bloody the nose, and drains the life out of you.
Once he gets the timing of his jab and gets comfortable, that's when he drops the right hand in. People rush in, he clips them. The main thing for Wladimir is to control AJ with the jab. It's a very heavy jab - a fighter will feel it on his nose, it can bloody the nose, and drains the life out of you. Wladimir's foot speed is also underrated and that may play a major factor.
Klitschko is the away fighter in the lion's den so he's got to be a tiger! Control the pace, the mind-set must be 'this is going to be a long night'.
Gamble in the second half - hold your shape, let the inexperienced Joshua lose his shape.
Be realistic, he can't afford to go at Joshua's pace for the whole fight. In training I'd be doing the Ali stuff - tie Joshua up, turn it into a fight in a telephone box. Then I'd gamble in the second half - hold your shape, let the inexperienced Joshua lose his shape and run into trouble.
Cause Joshua as much frustration as possible. Stay away from the right hand, keep Joshua on the end of the jab, and take him into the later rounds. Take him into uncharted territory, somewhere that he's never been.
Klitschko has a great chance of knocking Joshua out, especially if Joshua hunts the knockout and leaves himself open.
In general, Klitschko is very good at what he does - jabbing, and negating whatever [his opponent] is good at. Frustrate Joshua, drop low, hold him, test his stamina. Klitschko is a massive puncher and, at heavyweight, it only takes one. Klitschko has a great chance of knocking Joshua out, especially if Joshua hunts the knockout and leaves himself open.
