Wladimir Klitschko backs Anthony Joshua to bounce back from defeat and become world champion again

Joshua lost his heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk

Joshua defeated Klitschko in a heavyweight bout (Getty Images)

Wladimir Klitschko says Anthony Joshua will bounce back and have his time after he was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk.

The British star lost his IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles to Usyk last Saturday via unanimous decision. The defeat meant Joshua’s big fight against Tyson Fury is no longer on the horizon in what was meant to be a battle of the Brits if Fury beat Deontay Wilder on 9 October.

Despite the loss, former heavyweight champion Klitschko said Joshua can comeback. “We have seen AJ challenged,” he told Sky Sports.

“I remember my time. I lost two fights within [13 months in 2003 and 2004]. To bounce back? To eventually become one of the longest reigning champions?

“AJ can still have his time, absolutely. It is all about how to overcome the challenge.”

Joshua has been beaten before, by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 but the Brit fought the American again a few months later to reclaim his belts.

The 31-year-old will bout Usyk again as a rematch is written into their contract. Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk says he expects it to take place in February or March next year.

“The approximate time that Eddie Hearn announced at the press conference after the fight, February-March, is indeed true. We can talk about the unification of all the belts only after Fury will have a boxing match against Wilder, and they determine the champion, and after our re-match with Anthony.

“Of course, I would like very much to have this unification match.”