Ukrainian heavyweight boxer Oleksandr Usyk’s spectacular performance ended Anthony Joshua’s reign as heavyweight champion in a unanimous decision.
This means Anthony Joshua suffers unanimous points defeat by Oleksandr Usyk to lose IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on same night.
According to Sky Sports report, Anthony Joshua was beaten by a glorious display of skill from Oleksandr Usyk in their pulsating world heavyweight championship fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Joshua was badly hurt in the third round and then forced to cling on in the closing seconds of a fight which will live long in the memory.
This is the second defeat of Joshua’s career, after he was upset by Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019, putting his hopes of the dream undisputed title fight against Tyson Fury in jeopardy after Usyk inflicted another twist in this incredible division.
Though Joshua put up some incredible performances to cause damage on his challenger’s face, the night belonged to Usyk who became only the third boxer (after Evander Holyfield and David Haye) to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight same night.
He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion and is now only missing the WBC belt, owned by Fury, to match that feat at heavyweight.
Meanwhile, in a post-match interview, Usyk admitted that although he had the chance and spirit of knocking out Joshua, he had word from his trainer that “I should respect him and not to knock him out”.
This assertion by Usyk now throw the discussion of a rematch wide open with some analysts asking if Joshua could survive the 12 rounds should he revoke the rematch clause.
“I had no objective to knock him out because my trainer, in my corner, pushed me not to do that”.
He added that “In the beginning I hit him hard and tried to knock him out. But then my trainer said: ‘Just stop, and do your job”.
The newly crowned unified champion revealed that there were moments during the fight that Joshua pushed him hard but for him, those moments were nothing better, adding that the pugilistic fans are yet to see his best.
“There were a couple of moments where Anthony pushed me hard. But nothing special.”
“You didn’t see the best Usyk. I can be much better,” the champion assured.
