Joshua vs Klitschko: Carl Froch says being knocked down by Wladimir Klitschko will make Anthony Joshua even better
Sunday 30 April 2017 10:16, UK
Carl Froch believes Anthony Joshua "came of age" when he climbed off the canvas to beat Wladimir Klitschko.
'AJ' was knocked down heavily in the sixth round in his heavyweight battle at Wembley Stadium, but beat the count and went on to win with an 11th-round stoppage.
It took his professional record to 19-0, with all of them coming inside the distance, but also showed his friend and former world super-middleweight champion Froch, a new side.
"There were a lot of questions - they've all be answered. Anthony Joshua came of age," Froch told Sky Sports.
"It was almost impossible what he did - but he did it. All that training, all that sparring he put himself through the gym, all that pain was worth it.
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"He dethroned an old, admittedly, but still a king in Wladimir Klitschko."
Before the fight, Froch admitted that he was worried what would happen if Klitschko had caught Joshua with one of his trademark rights during what was the toughest test of his career.
But after the sensational win in front of 90,000 fans, 'The Cobra' is now convinced the 27-year-old will still improve.
"To get put down and then somehow get up will make him a better fighter, no doubt about it," he said.
"We're talking about heavyweight boxing, when it can only take one punch, but him getting up proved he is better than a lot of people expected.
"Yes, he hadn't been down before, with the whole world watching, but that was one of the big questions we had about him.
"Lennox Lewis has done it, Mike Tyson has done it, anyone could get knocked out, especially when you are caught by such a clean shot from Klitschko.
"That showed his vulnerability which is no bad thing, as long as you can get through it, just as he did. Beating someone as good and experienced as Klitschko was one thing, but to do it after a heavy knockdown was amazing.
"I've known him and trained with him for a few years now, but now we will see the next stage."
