Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko: Ukrainian boxer under no illusion what awaits him on April 29 at Wembley Arena in his biggest ever fight
Around 90,000 fans are expected in Wembley Stadium in this year's tastiest heavyweight unification fight
WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO has admitted his surprise at how "big" his heavyweight unification fight against Anthony Joshua has become.
In front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium on April 29, the Ukrainian boxing legend will stand to-to-toe with Britain's most talked about ring talent.
And despite reigning the heavyweight division for years, winning 64 fights with 53 knockouts and losing just four, Klitschko is under no illusion the importance of this fight - and is hoping he has the answers to many people's questions.
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Speaking to , 40-year-old Klitschko said: "This fight is definitely something we are thinking is going to be great on both sides.
"One Olympic champion is fighting another one, one generation is fighting another generation, so there are a lot of questions.
"Do I still have it? Is Anthony good enough now? All these questions are in our minds. But we never thought it was going to be that big.
"Thankfully, it is that big, and it's getting even bigger, unexpectedly it's getting even bigger, and the interest is tremendous and amazing."
Klitschko is well used to selling out arenas around the world, including the O2 World Arena in Hamburg, as well as Madison Square Gardens in Las Vegas.
But he admits fighting in front of a sold-out Wembley will be a new experience even for him.
HE'S BEEN HERE BEFORE...
Few would remember but Wladimir Klitschko has actually fought in London before. Back in July 2000, the Ukrainian defeated American Monte Barrett at the now knocked down London Arena, that was on the Isle of Dogs. Barrett was knocked down five times on the night before the referee waved the fight off in the seventh round. It was on the undercard of Lennox Lewis' successful title defence against Frans Botha.
He added: "I'm happy about it, because for me it's an upgrade in my career as a fighter, to fight on my biggest stage that I've ever had in front of 90,000 people.
"I had maybe 40,000, 50,000 60,000 but never 90,000. It's the toughest challenge I've ever had, because in a certain way he is a copy of me sizewise and he is a world champion in a professional sport."
The former multiple belt holder, who lost the lot back in November 2015 when he lost to Tyson Fury, has done most of his fighting in Germany.
But few would remember he actually fought once in London previously.
In 2000, he defeated American Monte Barrett with a seventh-round knockout at the now closed London Arena on the Isle of Dogs.
This time, however, it will be a much more raucous atmosphere that greets him. But Klitschko is excited at the chance to return to the capital.
He said: "I'm happy to be back in the UK, I know we, Vitali and I, since we were fighting have a lot of followers there, and we've been fighting British fighters a lot in our careers.
"I know we have fans there to, and not to forget boxing came from Great Britain, so it's good to be back where boxing came from."