• Former world heavyweight champion out of rematch with Anthony Joshua • Joshua is likely to instead fight mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Wladimir Klitschko has announced his immediate retirement from boxing. The 41-year-old former world heavyweight champion had been considering a lucrative rematch with Anthony Joshua but will instead bow out on April’s dramatic defeat by the IBF and WBA title holder.

Joshua is now likely to fight mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, of Bulgaria, while Klitschko ensures his legacy remains intact as one of the finest heavyweights in history.

“I deliberately took a few weeks to make my decision, to make sure I had enough distance from the fight at Wembley Stadium,” said the Ukrainian. “As an amateur and a professional boxer, I have achieved everything I dreamed of, and now I want to start my second career after sports.”

After an unbeaten run that lasted 11 years, Klitschko lost his final two fights, conceding his IBF, WBA and WBO titles when being outpointed by Tyson Fury, while he was stopped by Joshua in the 11th round at Wembley.

Klitschko recovered from a fifth-round knockdown to fell Joshua for the first time in his professional career.

That final fight – he has chosen not to exercise his rematch clause – was widely considered the most entertaining in the heavyweight division since the glamour era of the 1990s, and was also perhaps the biggest since Lennox Lewis overcame Mike Tyson in 2002.

Joshua’s promoters Matchroom had the necessary plans in place for Klitschko to simply sign for a date of 11 November, so any fight with Pulev is similarly straightforward.

Las Vegas had appeared the likeliest venue, and while it remains an option, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 28 October is now the favourite.

If that is the case it means Joshua could even begin his training camp as soon as Saturday.

His preference is to train for 12 weeks in the buildup to a fight, even if the first two are not quite as intense, and Saturday represents 12 weeks from 28 October. Should Las Vegas on 11 November instead be confirmed, Joshua has already said preparations will officially begin on 22 August.

Asked about the Bulgarian, the 27-year-old Joshua responded: “Pulev’s a good fight. Look how [aggressively] he came to fight Klitschko [in a five-round stoppage defeat in 2014].

“He came with his heart on his sleeve. It may not be the fan favourite fight, but it’s one we need to get through to get to better things.”

Freddie Cunningham of AJ Boxing said: “The two dates have always been discussed, and are still both in play. Things are going to have to move quickly, as we already knew: within the next week.

“Fighters need time to have their camp, so they need a date. This Saturday will be 12 weeks, though he’s been ticking over, he is in a good place anyway. The 11th is still an option, but if it isn’t then, that’s brought all our timelines forward two weeks.

“When we met with the Vegas group, they were very positive on Anthony and either opponent; they just want to get Anthony over there. Vegas is definitely not ruled out. Everyone knew time was ticking and Klitschko hadn’t said anything; the longer it went on the more doubt there was.

“This makes it all a little bit easier; it focuses the mind now for everyone.”

Pulev’s only defeat came against Klitschko in 2014. Among his 25 victories was a split-decision over Joshua’s compatriot Dereck Chisora for the European title in May last year.

He is also promoted by the Sauerland brothers, who Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn has long worked with.