Former World Boxing heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko has disclosed that he is responsible for his younger brother, Wladimir’s defeat against Anthony Joshua.
The Ukrainian boxer admitted this to Boxingscene where he revealed that he gave his younger brother the “wrong advice” during the boxing match which held in Wembley.
Recall that Wladimir had appeared to be on the brink of success in the sixth round of the match wherein he knocked Anthony Joshua to the canvas.
Vitali while admitting to his errors stating that he has been carrying the guilt of the defeat since his brother’s loss said: “Immediately after the fight, we were barely speaking. We do not need to talk, it was just enough to look into each other’s eyes.
“Only in the locker room, I thanked him for one of the best fights of his career. I know how important this fight was for him and unfortunately, we saw what happened. In the heavyweight division, each punch can be decisive.
“I blame myself for the defeat of my brother, I share some of the blame. When Wladimir almost knocked Joshua out, I gave him the wrong advice.
“I was positive that Joshua, with his huge muscle mass, would not be able to last ( the distance ). I advised Wladimir not to rush anything.
“I had hoped that after the seventh, the eighth round, Joshua would really slow down.
“Now I think that maybe it was a mistake, maybe it was necessary to finish him off sooner.”
Wladimir is however expected to make his final decision on whether he will be fighting Anthony Joshua again in the next two weeks.
Regarding the undecided fight, Vitali said of his brother: “He has nothing to prove, but whatever decision he makes – I will support him.”