Joshua vs Klitschko: Wladimir Klitschko sparring with Gerald Washington before Wembley fight
Wednesday 5 April 2017 06:57, UK
Wladimir Klitschko has been sparring with American world title challenger Gerald Washington ahead of this month's Wembley fight with Anthony Joshua.
The 41-year-old Ukrainian is preparing for his upcoming heavyweight clash with IBF champion Joshua on April 29, live on Sky Sports Box Office, with the vacant WBA 'super' belt also at stake.
Washington has revealed on social media that he is one of the sparring partners for Klitschko, who is sharpening his ring skills at a regular training base in the Austrian mountains.
The Californian challenged Deontay Wilder for the WBC title in February, losing his unbeaten record in a fifth round knockout defeat after troubling the champion in the early rounds.
Standing at 6ft 6in tall, Washington is the same height as Joshua, and has a similar muscular physique.
Joshua has offered insight into his own sparring sessions, posting a picture on Twitter which confirmed he is working with Mariusz Wach, a former opponent for Klitschko.
The towering Polish fighter extended Klitschko the full 12 rounds in a 2012 points defeat and Joshua has compared Wach to 'Ivan Drago', the villain in the Rocky IV movie, referring to himself as fellow character 'Clubber Lang.'
Watch Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko, from Wembley Stadium, live on Sky Sports Box Office, on April 29.
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