Anthony Joshua working with Wladimir Klitschko in Austria

By Boxing News - 08/19/2014 - Comments

joshua536By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Anthony Joshua (7-0, 7 KOs) is working as a sparring partner IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Going, Austria.

The 6’6” Joshua is playing the part of Kubrat Pulev to get Wladimir prepared for his defense against Pulev on September 6th at the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Joshua will be at the Klitschko camp for 10 days of sparring.

In an interview, Joshua said that he doesn’t see himself on the same level as Wladimir right now, which kind of gives you an idea of how the sparring sessions have likely gone. Basically, Wladimir needs a big body to get him accustomed to what he’ll be experiencing when he faces the 6’4 1/2” Pulev. The 6’6” 239 pound Joshua gives Wladimir a body to spar with in what he hopes will help him.

Wladimir has a number of other heavyweights in the camp helping him, such as Kevin Johnson, Malik Scott, Wladimir Tereshkin and Emmanuel Nwodo.

I’m not sure that Joshua is the ideal opponent for Wladimir to be sparring with to get him ready for Pulev, because the two fighters are so different from one another. Pulev has a great jab, whereas Joshua has more of a pawing jab at this point.

Pulev tends to throw clubbing right hands that have a slight loop to them. Joshua throws mostly straight punches. Joshua doesn’t move well around the ring like Pulev does, and he’s kind of flat-footed in comparison to him.

You’ve got to imagine that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn is very pleased to hear the news of Joshua sparring with Wladimir. The sparring is more valuable to Joshua than it is for Wladimir. I mean, Joshua might learn something from the 10 days with Wladimir and improve. Joshua admits that the sparring that he’s getting with Wladimir is on another level entirely. He says he’s not been in with too many big heavyweights like Wladimir for sparring.

Joshua will be fighting on September 13th against an opponent still to be determined at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, UK. In October, Joshua will be stepping it up against high level journeyman Michael Sprott on October 11th at the O2 Arena in London, UK.



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