Joshua vs Klitschko: Paul Merson's memories of Wembley
Tuesday 25 April 2017 14:30, UK
Paul Merson is excited for Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko and recalls his own Wembley highlights.
Your favourite Wembley memory...
I would probably say the Coca-Cola Cup final in 1993. To score at Wembley was always a dream as a kid.
What was it like walking out...
It was the most frightening thing ever. I was one of those who kept on going to the toilet when I got nervous. I always used to think all the way during the build-up is 'how am I not going to go to the toilet all the way through the national anthems?'
Someone famous would come along - someone like Prince Charles - and shake your hand. I always thought, 'well, that's going to take five minutes. Then we've got to warm up... I'm going to need the toilet again! But there is no better place in the world than Wembley.
Did Wembley bring added nerves?
There were games I did and games I didn't. I remember my first ever FA Cup final. I remember being lined up and met someone, then you sprint off. When I went to sprint off I suddenly thought 'my legs are heavy. I can't feel my legs!' That was a worry for about 10 minutes. That was the nerves kicking in. But the more times you played there the more you understood about getting nervous.
There will be 90,000 there on April 29, do you think that will have an effect?
I think so. The first time I played there the nerves got the better of me. The more times I played there the less I got nervous.
I can't see how he cannot be nervous - he's going to be boxing in the best stadium in the world where everyone wants to play football, and now probably wants to box too. It's taken over from Las Vegas, in my opinion.
What will Klitschko make of the 90,000 welcome?
He's 41, he's been around. Most of the time he's fought in Germany. I think he will be pleasantly surprised how hostile it will be.
How do you see the fight going?
I probably seeing Joshua being a little too strong for him as the fight goes on. But it's a big fight for Klitschko, because he got beat by Fury and if he gets beat here, everything he's done in boxing will go out of the window in two fights. It's a big fight, but I just expect Joshua to be too strong for someone who hasn't fought in such a long time.
Final prediction...
I think Joshua will stop him in round six. If Wladimir Klitschko doesn't do anything in the first few rounds, as I said, he hasn't boxed in a long time, then I think Joshua will take over.
