Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko produced one of the greatest contests in the history of heavyweight boxing. Sportsmail's Jeff Powell ranks the greatest-ever heavyweight bouts.

The comparisons had already started. Similar movement, muscular physique and concrete fists. Anthony Joshua the new Muhammad Ali? Both, of course, differ greatly in their own way.

Anthony Joshua settled the biggest post-war boxing bout held on British soil by knocking out Wladimir Klitschko in emphatic fashion in front of a 90,000 strong crowd at Wembley Stadium.

Anthony Joshua overcame the challenge of Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley on Saturday evening in one of the most highly anticipated and hard fought bouts in the last few decades.

Klitschko was defeated in a thrilling heavyweight showdown before 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night that saw both fighters climb off the canvas.

Klitschko recovered from a fifth round knockdown to floor a tiring Joshua in their heavweight showdown at Wembley Stadium last month. He is yet to decide whether to have a rematch or retire.

Anthony Joshua will face Bulgarian titan Kubrat Pulev when he next steps into a boxing ring... if Wladimir Klitschko retires from the sport, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed. 

Klitschko has yet to decide whether to trigger his rematch clause, with Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn revealing last week that 'AJ' would fight Kabrat Pulev next , should Klitschko retire.

Klitschko, 41, has yet to confirm whether he will retire or trigger his rematch clause and take on the IBF and WBA world champion. But Hearn claims they are working on making the fight.

Though Klitschko has yet to decide whether he wants to fight on, Hearn has travelled States alongside his head of boxing Frank Smith and Joshua's manager Freddie Cunningham.

The details have been in place for a fortnight, awaiting only the 41-year-old Klitschko’s commitment to carry on in the ring, which has seen him trigger the rematch clause.

Anthony Joshua is preparing to begin a training camp on August 22 in the expectation Wladimir Klitschko will sign for their proposed November 11 rematch in Las Vegas.

At the end of Wladimir Klitschko's remarkable 21-year, 69-fight career, Sportsmail details the top 10 moments for one of the most dominant heavyweights in history.

The Ukrainian was defeated by Joshua in a heavyweight blockbuster back in April and the Brit was eyeing another colossal bout in Las Vegas on November 11.

Wladimir Klitschko posted a classy message on Instagram to Anthony Joshua after deciding to hang up his gloves. He wrote: 'Good luck little bro, I'm proud of you!'

Anthony Joshua's trainer criticised his performance in the Wladimir Klitschko fight on his first morning back in the gym. The WBA and IBF champion became Britain's darling with the 11th-round win.

Klitschko's unexpected announcement, at the age of 41 following his stoppage defeat by Joshua at Wembley, surprised the boxing community as much as Joshua.

Lee Westwood may have missed the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship but he soon livened up when Wladimir Klitschko showed up at St Andrews.

WARNING - OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE: In front of a post-war record crowd of 90,000 in London, 'AJ' climbed off the canvas to stop the former unified heavyweight champion and extend his perfect record.

Former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko has auctioned off the robe he wore against Anthony Joshua to charity, which fetched for £150,000 to help underprivileged children.

Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko have met for the first time since their epic showdown to discuss the fight that evolved into the sporting event of 2017.

The Nashville star was spotted holding hands with the hunk last week while on a dinner date at celebrity-friendly haunt Craig's in West Hollywood.

Klitschko retired after being stopped by Joshua in a epic clash at Wembley last April, but now seems tempted by the possibility of getting a second bite at the cherry.

Reports had suggested the 42-year-old was considering returning to the ring with the possibility he could be a candidate to face Joshua in his next outing at Wembley on April 13.

In recent weeks he has been linked with an April showdown against Dillian Whyte, only to pour cold water on talk of a comeback by labelling reports 'fake news' and 'an early April fool's'.

After being knocked out by Anthony Joshua, Klitschko announced his retirement from boxing aged 41 - but he could now be set for an amazing big-money return with streaming service DAZN.

JEFF POWELL IN NEW YORK: Right on target Joshua scaled 247.8 lbs at the boisterous weigh in, more than ten pounds lighter than the rotund 258lbs challenger for his world heavyweight titles.

Wladimir Klitschko and his family were caught up in a terrifying early-morning sea drama after their luxury yacht caught fire off the coast of Mallorca.

Anthony Joshua believes he was hit harder by Wladimir Klitschko than by Andy Ruiz, despite going on to lose his heavyweight titles against the Mexican.

JEFF POWELL IN LAS VEGAS: Tyson Fury is at his lightest since he beat Wladimir Klitschko for his heavyweight clash with Sweden's Otto Wallin on Saturday night.

Fury came in at 254.4lbs for his fight against Wallin in Las Vegas, the lightest he has been since he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, where he weight 247 pounds.

Wladimir Klitschko (pictured) has teased the world of boxing with talk he could make a sensational return to the ring in a bid to become the oldest heavyweight champion ever.

The British heavyweight, who had been dethroned by the Mexican-American in June, received a telephone call from the 43-year-old Ukrainian during his preparations for the highly-anticipated rematch.

Dillian Whyte has lifted the lid on what it was like inside Wladimir Klitschko's sparring sessions with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder. 

JEFF POWELL: Still the arguments rumble on. Who was the Fighter of the Decade just gone? Time to settle it before the first January of the New 20s is out.

John Fury, 54, of Leiston appeared on This Morning today where he admitted he fears his boxer son Tyson, 31, could start 'doing stupid stuff again' when his boxing career comes to an end.

JEFF POWELL IN LAS VEGAS: In his seventh round stoppage of reigning WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury delivered arguably the greatest overseas display.

Klitschko used to regularly invite young heavyweights to his intense training camps in Austria. Wilder attended and Whyte described when the Ukrainian 'knocked Wilder out cold.'

Some fans were expecting the Watford-born fighter to say Andy Ruiz Jr was the hardest puncher he'd faced after the Mexican's shock victory over Joshua in 2019.

JORDAN SEWARD: There were plenty of ifs and buts before, but by the end of his fight with Klitschko, it was resounding and unanimous: In Anthony Joshua, we were looking at a bona fide superstar.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: It is the clubs that make the game; they bring the people together and give that confluence meaning. The only enduring unit in team sport is a club.

Something had to give. Even the venture capitalists who run Liverpool could not project their club as mattering more, then end up on the same side as Mike Ashley and Daniel Levy.

MARTIN SAMUEL: It is a familiar trope that there are not many great captains in football these days. Never will that be more keenly felt than at the top of the Premier League on Friday. 

The Olympic sprint champion, 33, main, has said he would consider taking up the sport. In February he tied the quickest ever NFL 40-yard dash running in 4.22 seconds, inset.

Lionel Messi, Serena Williams, Usain Bolt and Michael Jordan all inspire greatness and the four sporting icons have come together to do so in a new advert.

Lisa Nandy and Piers Morgan engaged in an explosive row over transgender rights today as the Labour leadership hopeful was accused of failing to give 'straight answers'.

Keita has been out of action since May 1 after he suffered an adductor injury in the Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Barcelona at the Nou Camp but appears to be on the road to recovery.

Liverpool superstar Sadio Mane has been dealt an African Cup of Nations blow after picking up a suspension ahead of Senegal's opening match.

DR CONGO 0-2 UGANDA: Headers from Patrick Kaddu and Emmanuel Okwi gave Uganda a 2-0 victory against DR Congo in their opening group game at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Francois Kamano struck from the spot after Anicet Andrianantenaina and Carolus Andriamatsinoro goals early in the second half had put the debutants ahead.