Joshua was put down for the first time in his career in the sixth round (Nick Potts/PA)

Both fighters appeared on the brink of defeat at various stages of a see-saw clash which burst into life when Joshua floored veteran Klitschko in the fifth round.

The 41-year-old recovered to put Joshua down, for the first time in his career, in the next but the younger man hit back in brutal fashion to drop Klitschko for a second time in the 11th.

Klitschko regained his feet but was felled again by a left hook and referee David Fields intervened to stop the contest moments after his next attempt to continue.

“I came out and I won,” said Joshua. “I didn’t go into the slugfest, I came back and fought my heart out.

“Boxing is about character. As I said from the get-go, it will be a boxing classic.”

The contest was stopped after a brutal display by Joshua in the 11th round (Peter Byrne/PA)

Klitschko was gracious in defeat and retired three months later, marking the end of an era in which he and his brother Vitali had dominated the heavyweight division.

He said: “It was really sad I didn’t make it. I was planning to do it, it didn’t work – but all respect to Anthony.

“I thought he wouldn’t get up, he managed to get up. Respect.”

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