Despite Klitschko being the underdog in a now failed rematch with Tyson Fury, the Ukrainian is on par with IBF title holder Joshua, with oddsmakers keeping a close eye on a formal announcement this week.
A first showing has Joshua and Klitschko level at 10/11 for the contest touted for a date of December 10 in the UK on pay-per-view. This is despite Joshua failing to put a foot wrong as a pro and Klitschko being the wrong side of 40 and also having lost his last fight against Fury.
Klitschko will be travelling to Joshua’s backyard as the challenger with the aim of end the Olympic gold medallist’s eye-catching run of 17 wins, all coming within seven rounds. Granted that Joshua is making a massive step-up in class, although Klitschko looked out of sorts against Fury and hasn’t put in a hugely impressive performance for two years.
With the former undisputed champion being on the slide and Joshua on the way up, punters could be laughing all the way to the bank with those kind of odds at the end of a barren period for Klitschko due to the public problems Fury faced this year.
A year out is a long time for a fighter in the twilight of his career, and by a contrast of night and day, ‘AJ’ has fought those seventeen times in just three short years as a professional.
In my mind, big-punching juggernaut Joshua should begin the favourite in this encounter, but only time will tell if it’s fully warranted or not, and all is dependent on how much wily veteran Klitschko has left in his locker.
