Anthony Joshua Loses To Oleksandr Usyk By A Split Decision In Their Rematch And Retains Heavyweight Titles.
Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk has retained his heavyweight titles after a thrilling rematch with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.
English boxer Anthony Joshua had a chance to reclaim his lost belts against Oleksandr Usyk, who painfully defeated him last year in London, and won the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts from the British boxer.
This right j Jeddah took a long time to happen due to Usyk's involvement in the Ukraine war, but we finally got the rematch we were all waiting for. The AMB, IBF and OMB belts are on the line.
Joshua put up a far better performance against the Ukrainian compared to that of 2021, landing blows and occasionally unloading on Usyk.
But it was Usyk who came out on top, landing more punches on his opponent, with a higher work rate than AJ.
Usyk won on a split points decision after the pair went the full 12 rounds - 115 to 113 by the first judge to the challenger, 115 to 113 and 116 to 112 by the other two judges, and the Ukrainian retains his titles.
Oleksandr Usyk fights back the tears as he takes a split-decision win over Anthony Joshua. 🇺🇦pic.twitter.com/jhSJizxEA8
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 20, 2022
Joshua then threw two of Usyk’s belts on the floor at the end of the fight following the result and headed for his changing room before storming back to the ring to shake Usyk’s hand.
He then grabbed the microphone discussing the fight at the King Abdullah Sports City, his career, leading cheers to Usyk, and discussed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine."If you knew my story, you would understand the passion.
"I ain't no amateur boxer, from five years old that was an elite prospect from youth. I was going to jail, I got bail and I started training my a*** off, I wanted to be able to fight.
"This guy beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better, but it shows the level of hard work I put in, so please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world."
He added: “I’m not a 12-round fighter, look at me, I’m a new breed of heavyweights, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey, ‘you don’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano’, I’m 18 stone, I’m heavy, it’s hard work. This guy here is a phenomenal talent, we’re going to cheer for him three times.”
The pair also briefly posed with the Ukrainian flag in a stand of solidarity in defiance of Russia's ongoing assault in the country.
Following the win, Usyk paid tribute to the Ukrainian military, and said that he is only interested in fighting WBC champion Tyson Fury next.
Usyk said: "I did this victory for my country, for all people, militaries who are defending the country. Thank you very, very much."
Joshua on storming out of ring: 'I was mad'
He added: "I'm sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet. I'm sure, I'm convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him, and if I'm not fighting Tyson Fury, I'm not fighting at all."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered his congratulations to his fellow countryman soon after the bout, tweeting: "Difficult, but so important and necessary VICTORY!
"Defending the title of world champion is a symbol that all those who are of Cossack sort will not give up their own, they will fight for it and will definitely win!"
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