The making of a champion: Anthony Joshua defeats Wladimir Klitschko in epic battle

“Untested” was the criticism that clung so closely to Anthony Joshua before Saturday night’s heavyweight title bout that lured a record post-second world war fight crowd to England’s Wembley Stadium.

In a rousing display of his toughness and fighting skill, Joshua picked himself off the canvas and hammered Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko relentlessly in the 11th round, winning by technical knockout in a showing that vanquished the tag of inexperience.

“I’m not perfect, but I’m trained,” Joshua told the 90,000 roaring for the man who took a major step toward becoming the sport’s next big thing. “Sometimes you can be a phenomenal boxer. But boxing’s about character, and sometimes you go into the trenches.

“I said it’d be a classic. I came back to fight my heart out. That’s what I’m about.”

Joshua, who first won the country’s heart by claiming the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, had never fought past seven rounds.

And the 27-year-old’s interest in flexing his younger muscles and power punches on the 41-year-old former long-reigning champion was pulled from the same script that allowed Joshua to win his first 18 fights by knockouts to become International Boxing Federation champion.