British boxer Anthony Joshua, left, and Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko take part in their weigh-in at Wembley Arena in London, Friday, April 28, 2017.
But Klitschko hit back and pinned Joshua to the ropes to turn the round on its head.
Joshua charged out with a ferocious onslaught in the fifth that sent Klitschko to the canvas, but the experienced former champion recovered well and it was the British fighter who ended the round gasping for air.
The Ukrainian legend kept Joshua at bay with probing jabs in the first and stunned him with a stinging right hand in the fourth.
Anthony Joshua won! The boxer and his incredible knockout made him a champion, Anthony got his WBA world heavyweight title after the victory over Wladimir Klitschko.
The 27-year-old was knocked down in round six but twice had Klitschko on the canvas in the penultimate round before the referee stepped in. "(I'm) 19-0, three and a half years in the game", Joshua said.
Klitschko was already coming off a tough loss when he entered the ring, a twelve round decision that he dropped to Tyson Fury in a major upset in November 2015. Like I did before I won this fight.
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Ukraine's growth is projected to slow to 2 per cent this year from 2.3 per cent in 2016, but recover to 3 per cent next year. Weak consumption and investment following the attempted military coup in July 2016 compounded these earlier problems.
"I'd like to say it was me who pushed for this fight", said Hearn, "but I can't take the credit".
'An apple doesn't fall far from the tree' a popular saying goes and it seems that applies to the man of the moment, Anthony Joshua. "Is that what you want to see?" I knew it was going to be tough for him, because I wanted to do the same.
Even at 41 years old, Klitschko proved he remains among the world's leading heavyweights, and insisted he would explore his rematch clause for a potential return. Victor takes all, considered the best man on the planet. "I was planning to do it". "A massive shout-out to Wladimir Klitschko for taking the fight".
A heavyweight title fight unlike any seen in the country that invented boxing didn't just end with the hometown favorite's hand aloft in victory.
He said he was happy that it was a great fight, adding: "There was a lot of hype and I'm glad it lived up to expectations".
"It's too early to tell you the number", said Hearn, who added that Joshua would not be in the ring again until October at the earliest.
But a desperate Klitschko, now with a cut over his left eye, came charging back and Joshua looked to be out on his feet when the bell sounded.
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