Anthony Joshua has spoken for the first time at his "massive disappointment" at missing out on a lucrative rematch with Wladimir Klitschko in Las Vegas following the Ukrainian's retirement.

After stopping the Ukrainian in the 11th round in front of a record 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium in April, Joshua had hoped to see a rematch in November to break America and become a superstar across the pond.

Only weeks after the Wembley bout, manager Eddie Hearn filed paperwork to the IBF requesting an exception to a mandatory defence against Kubrat Pulev and it looked all the more likely Joshua-Klitschko II was in the offing.

Stephen Espinoza, boss of American broadcaster Showtime, who have a contract with Joshua, had even spoken of his excitement at a Klitschko rematch.

"It's no secret we've been salivating about getting him over here and certainly that would be a phenomenal fight. It would be the biggest heavyweight Vegas fight in probably a couple of decades, so we would love to host it" he told Sky Sports in August.

Instead, Joshua now faces the prospect of the facing the relatively unknown Bulgarian Pulev October 28, a blow seemingly softened only by plans to stage it front of 74,500 fans at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.

Following the Wembley bout, Klitschko appeared to throw down the gauntlet to Joshua, contending he had passed up the chance to finish off the Brit after downing him in the sixth.

Instead, the Ukrainian, who holds the record for the longest combined world record championship reign in boxing history at more than ten years, has ducked out fighting an opponent, who at 27, is 13 years his junior.

It's an about turn which has not completely surprised Joshua, though.

"In my heart of hearts I kind of knew he probably wouldn't fight again. He was saying how obsessed he was with becoming heavyweight champion of the world again," Joshua told PA Sport.

"If you fail at the first hurdle, you go again; you knew from my side I was ready for a rematch, making it clear that if he wants to go again, we'll go again. With Klitschko, we weren't hearing too much, so I just thought he was 50-50, but I had a feeling he might not fight again.

"I, and many other people, wanted to see him compete, but he felt it was best for him to leave the game, hang up his gloves, and I respect the man's decision." 

"Take the financial side away: this is a sport where you get damaged mentally and internally and externally. It all looks good but he's put his body through so many years of impact.

"He's quite intelligent so has other things to keep him busy, other interests outside of boxing, so he can make that decision comfortably with retiring and focusing on other things.

Klitschko has appeared with Lennox Lewis in the film Ocean's Eleven. He is also a keen chess player, kitesurfer, golfer and humanitarian - previously forming charities with his brother to help children in need in Africa and South America. He won humanitarian awards for his "Sport for Good" projects in 2002 and 2007. 

So you get the sense that although Klitschko has now hung his gloves up, he will not be putting his feet up.