WBA, IBF, WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) retained his titles with a twelve round split decision over Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) on Saturday night at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Joshua came out with some new tricks learned from new trainer Robert Garcia. It took Usyk a few rounds to adjust. Joshua’s body attack was much improved from the first fight and Uysk became noticeably slower as the fight progressed. Joshua took over completely in round nine, but Usyk changed his tactics again and unloaded on Joshua in round ten, which kept Joshua from doing more body damage. Usyk took the fight to Joshua in the championship rounds. Scores were 115-113 Joshua, 115-113, 116-112 Usyk.
After the fight, Joshua had a bit of a meltdown, storming out of the ring, returning, dropping two of the belts on the canvas, and grabbing the mic and giving a rather bizarre diatribe. “I’m not a 12 round fighter? Look at me, I’m a new breed of heavyweight,” said Joshua. All them heavyweights, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey, they say ‘he doesn’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano,’ because I’m not f**king 14 stone (200 pounds). That’s why. I’m 18 stone (250 pounds). I’m heavy.”
Meanwhile, Usyk called out Tyson Fury, saying “I want to fight him and if I am not fighting Tyson Fury, I am not fighting at all. Only God knows whether I will fight him or not, but all these gentlemen here around me, my team, they are going to help me.”
Ok, let’s hope that fury fights Usyk in the biggest venue in the UK. And we don’t have Usyk-Aj 3,4, 5
rwb: Yes. Usyk is a better boxer than Fury, but Fury is somehow able to move like a smaller boxer even though being such a giant of a man.
What can I say, Usyk is just a better boxer. I had Usyk on a UD. The one judge that scored it for Joshua must have been paid off before the fight started. Joshua’s confidence train ride on saying he needed a knockout is true. Joshua can NOT outbox a slick boxer in Usyk.
Exactly, that’s why Canyellow will never fight any type of slick boxer.
Silly comment. I suggest you check his record.
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Agreed, the bottom line is that Joshua was ok with losing and would not give 100%
Yes usyk way better boxer but Joshua did not want it enough!
He was not ok with losing , just that Uysk was to good on the night !
You are right also Joshua just doesn’t have that extra gear Usyk does he totally took over the fight in the last 3zrounds and AJ had no answers when n him the fight too good v score cards too nice shock
Absolutely disgraceful.that judge should never be aloud to score another fight.second round was close & joshua won the ninth but usyk walked it
Glenn Feldman is the American judge who scored the fight for Joshua. This guy is a joke!
Feldman is an older guy. Maybe he needs checked for eye cataracts for limited eye sight or dementia since he forgot how to properly score a fight.
Split decision WTF?
And it was the American judge that turned in the wonky scorecard. I swear, the US has the worst judges in the World.
Now the Joshua factor is eradicated let’s see Fury step up to the plate and let’s finally get an “Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Of The World”
Personally, I am done with the Fury hype. Time to move on from the Fury era and see others step it up.
Fury better get ‘permission’ from his wife and mommy and whoever else he made retirement promises to.
Finally? The undisputed fight was signed, sealed and delivered in 2021. Then everyone decided that it was only fair that Deontay Wilder got to go 0-3 in an unnecessary trilogy.
Fury would be a completely different fight for Usyk. I’d favor Fury. The big question would be whether Fury was committed to the project enough to come in shape and ready to fight. If I was Usyk, I’d issue a challenge right now that says Fury has two weeks to accept a fight 90 days from now. If Fury refuses, Usyk looks like he did his part to make it happen. If Fury accepts, Usyk probably gets to fight an even-more-than-usual out of shape Fury.
Not a bad idea but think it would take a year or so to properly build the promotion. Contracts plus venue and tv rights etc takes alot of time especially for a undisputed heavyweight fight
Can’t win if you don’t throw, fought like boxing is a game!
Joshua tons of talent, too slow does not have the Cahunas to win the fight
Joshua will not give it all.
Would not release punches and now he has energy to talk live.
Makes no sense.
Does not want to be a champion!
Frustrating, he will live longer than me not stressing, which is healthy
But iam not built that way
Most fighters, and all champions that I remember never do that during there prime!
Joshua gave it all. He just didn’t have enough to give.
Total agree with Darrel. For example last fight between Remero and Davis I know it’s different weight class. One fighter looks bigger and stronger is going in for kill mentality the other fighter taking his time to break him down. Cheeky Romero says that he walked in to it,no he doesn’t think like his corner man
Agreed. Was it the Ruiz fight that did him in, or exposed him, or changed his will to “leave it all in the ring?”
I had Usyk winning but Joshua definitely had a better performance than the 1st fight. If Wilder gets past Helenius, Joshua/Wilder is the other fight to make in the division.
I love that comment you made. Wilder vs. Joshua would be a ticket seller. Each guy has the capability to KO each other.
Easy win for wilder because he could care less if he gets Koed
Joshua no heart
The defining moments in the 70s, in which the heavyweight had a golden era, were those times when Ali. Frazier. Foreman, Norton, Quarry, and Lyle fought each other, often several times. It was a golden era.
The same formula can work with Ustinov, Wilder, Joshua, Ruiz, Anderson, Parker and the newer fighters Jalolev and Torrez. What if the 20s of the 21st century in boxing were like the 20s of the 20th century? An idea to salivate over.
Fury-Joshua is the moneymaker of the heavyweight division if it can be made. Joshua-Wilder might be entertaining, but it can wait… it’s not the best match to be made money-wise right now.
Usyk edged it. How he responded in rounds 10 and 11 was incredible.
Totally agree nice and xtra gear and heart won it for bhom!
Edged it!…Joshua won maybe 3 rounds ,get outta here with that uneducated crap.
Your arrogance and intolerance are extreme. Two judges had it 115-113 for either fighter. I would say that qualifies as ‘edged’.
Anthony Joshua had an emotional breakdown post fight. BETA male ! And uysk is milking the Ukraine bullsh*t hard
What is “Ukraine bull$h*t”?
Secondly, Joshua has class, do not confuse that with being a “BETA male”.
Milking the fact that his Country is In war… L, your an idiot.
Dumb comment of the year.
Good fight, good scoring, I had it 116-112 for Usyk, as much as I wanted AJ to win, Usyk looked stronger. Fury Vs Usyk for The Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship next???
Same score for me, 116-112
Honestly the only guy that best Usyk by boxing is Fury. Either that or someone that get brawl. Unfortunately for poor Joshua he is just too big and slow to beat Usyk. He did better by throwing body shots but he got tired and he needed to be able to fight hard for all 12 rds to best Usyk. Kinda sucks that Usyk doesn’t have much power at heavyweight and is a really boring 12 rd dancer at this weight. Not a real box office draw for me.
I still feel like Joshua is afraid to fight a rough, nasty fight. When he committed to ripping body punches, he won rounds. But he allowed the fight to be fought in the center of the ring, which was always going to favor Usyk. He should have tried to steamroll him, grab and hold, push and shove, and just otherwise maul him. Make it ugly and violent. But another fight goes by where Joshua tried to outbox a better boxer.
Salut, PETE/Don’t have to agree, but, I know a brawler who’s more dangerous then Joshua, a killer ,the wrecking machine !! : “Arthur Beterbiev”. I don’t know if the fight will ever happen cause the differents weight class.I would say that he’s, at least, dangerous like Fury .Arthur give you the “shivvers”when he ‘s in front of you!!( I mean,in the ring)Have a good day
Thought the first fight was closer. Joshua again fought Usyk’s fight. Usyk clearly won.
WTF was AJ thinking, walked off in a hissy fit and then comes back to make a cringe worthy speech. Usyk must have been embarrassed
116-112, one judge had it right
WTF Anthony Joshua do after the fight? That dude is a clown.
Thought Joshua was a stone cold lock not great stamina and give credit to Usyk with that movement but don’t think either one of these guys could carry Evanders jock.
On a side note they have got to move these shows along at a better pace 6+ hours is ridiculous.
Agree with you 100% even though holy was a roid head he gave 100% always
Put usyk on the same gear Holyfuelled was taking and then Usyk would have a body like holy’s – a head sat on shoulders with no neck and ripped as hell………
When it come’s to taking ‘GEAR’ you should look to Lennox Lewis’ SWIFT weight gain after he was hammer by Oliver McCall… Now that’s what I call ‘GEAR’
The judge who saw joshua win on one of the score cards should receive 50 lashes by king aladin abdulah mohamed el aziz for such a horrible felony! joshua is the weakest of the top 5 heavyweights and I expected the smaller guy for the win! Eddy hearn inflated joshuas career since day 1! Uzyk vs Fury should be a good one if it ever happens, I just hope I don’t have to wait 5 years before it happens!
Embarrassment. From the ref who wouldn’t call low blows, grabbing behind the neck, hitting behind the head, forearm to the head, to the crooked judge scoring a win for Baby, and ending with a crybaby fit, this was a farce. Usyk, congrads, I had you winning 117-111, even Hearn, Baby’s promoter, had Uyk winning!!! Joshua, you had your heart taken, you didn’t come to give it your all, please go away.
Congrats to Usyk…Usyk looked sluggish though..He was different this fight…Usyk did just enough to get the edge..did not dominate the fight…on the other hand…Joshua did just enough to lose..,Joshua started with pressure and great body shots….setting up that sweeping right hand….Usyk was surprisingly sluggish…looked extremely vulnerable but Joshua would not take the fight to Usyk.,.Usyk letting his hands go because of the Joshua’s body shots and Joshua’s slight activity … actually got Usyk the victory….Joshua just did not do enough to finish strong….Joshua seemed content knowing that he performed better than his last fight with Usyk… Interesting fight….
Usyk slugish?! No… Usyk adapted very well on Joshuas game plan.A biger man meant to come strong to him and give him some beating. Usyk had to eat some and resist till later rounds…Tire Joshua….than change the gear in later rounds….
Only thing Usyk is missing…is heavyweight devostating power…
Other than that…. it was a perfect execution of this strategy…
When I heard “115-113 Joshua,” I screamed out, “Oh, no!,” thinking Usyk was going to be robbed. But thankfully the other judges got it right. I had it 116-112 Usyk, but there were two rounds I could easily have seen go the other way, so no complaints about the result.
In a perfect boxing world, we’d see Fury-Joshua now, but I’m not sure that ever happens now. Usyk meanwhile seems to go into mandatory defense Hell, likely dropping one or more of the belts in the process. Such is the state of the heavyweight title.
BTW, anyone have any idea why The Ring belt was awarded tonight? They at least used to have some pretty tight strictures on championship recognition, and last time I checked Fury still had theirs.
Fury relinquished the Ring belt last week as part of his “retirement.” The Ring stated that it would give the belt to the winner of
This fight as the highest
Rated and only non-retired champion.
Thanks for that information. I think that may have been premature – both for Fury to give it up, and for The Ring to jump so fast in awarding it again. Not that Usyk is undeserving, but they could’ve waited, especially given Fury’s penchant to change his sometimes schizophrenic mind.
Truth, Fury relinquished it formally when he said he was retiring. Apparently, The Ring believed him. LOL!
The fight was over before it even started,especially when jashua’s trainer Robert Garcia said days before the fight that AJ was disappointed with the training camp because he wasnt getting praised for his work and was being pushed too much.It sounds like he needed his parents to be part of the camp along with Garcia.
116-112 Usyk right on the money.
I actually beleive that AJ should visit a psychiatrist according to the postfight incident
Good match having it 116-112 Usyk but enough to defeat Fury is doubtful.
I had it 116-112 for Usyk. Joshua had some good rounds and he earned them with body shots. I thought the 9th round would be a turning point for Joshua but Usyk came out with guns blazing in the 10th, took over the fight and kept it up till the final bell. Usyk cemented his victory in the last three rounds.
It was a close fight but should have been a unanimous decision for Usyk. That judge who gave the fight to Joshua just wasn’t paying attention to who was landing cleanly and often. I often cringe before scorecards are announced because there have been some robberies in past fights. This time, the right man won the decision.
And I see your true colours shining through….I see your true colours…. AJ lost the plot and embarrassed himself post fight. All this Mr nice guy which I believed was fake.
I thought Usyk pulled an old Muhammad Ali trick in round 9 on Joshua, he went into a defensive cover up mode and allowed Joshua to punch himself out to then come out hard against him the next rounds to close out the show. I had Usyk winning 9-3 rounds could live with 8-4, but the American judge who gave it to Joshua 7 to 5 is a complete imbecile.
No way. He was hurt. It only makes his effort in 10-12 more spectacular.
Wow, I called it by split decision and wouldn’t you know it. Joshua did much better this fight but he still came up short and he’s had every opportunity that he could possibly have to solve the Ukrainian puzzle. Usyk is one of the best pound-for-pound technical fighters who ever lived. He really has a very high ring IQ and can make adjustments whenever he needs to.
Both fighters were better tonight than the first time.
If Usyk were orthodox instead of southpaw, AJ beats him.
Styles make fights and sometimes one fighter has the number of the other fighter. AJ still has some fight left in him. Usyk keeps getting better.
Bingo. Usyk is a great fighter, but he is also great in ways that make it difficult for the larger AJ to beat him.
Usyk won 11-1 in rounds, JOKE judges.
Ho hum. Not a fight to remember.
There is no beating Usyk
Usyk is the man! You can’t deny that one bit. He is the True heavyweight champ. To go through what he and his country is going through and to be able to fight like he did is beyond me. A true champ and example to all heavyweights.
AJ reminds me of the kid who got a participation trophy his whole life. Hit him and he is a turtle in his shell, Robert Garcia can’t coach heart Usyk ,heart, faith, drive, determined,will to win. Eddie Hearn won’t sleep well tonight.
very disingenuous and ignorant comment. Anthony Joshua is a phenomenal fighter who happens to lose to a much better fighter. You act like Mike Tyson, Ali, and Joe Louis didn’t have losses. They did and some of them were worse than this. Casual boxing fans annoy the hell out of me; One or two losses in a fighter and somehow damage goods.
Somebody sounds like they had their feelings hurt ,how is it disingenuous and ignorant to state facts about what they observed?Joshua is not phenomenal at all and when did “Chavez” mention anybody else in their careers….your statement sounds like a casual trying to sound knowledgeable.
I find Chavez’s post spot on. You are a Joshua fan no doubt. After he gets beat a few more times, you will realize he isn’t phenomenal. Ruiz proved that already.
Joshua was a sore loser. The Spoils go to the Victor. He should have kept his mouth closed
Can we please be done with AJ now?? Loss after loss, no heart, no fire, not much of a chin. LAME!! If i was that big n strong id be wrecking mferz!!! Everyone beats AJ. Ortiz, Wilder, Helenius, etc etc….sooooo ’get off AJ’s nuts!’
Wilder could beat him… at least he’d be favored to beat him. It’s not a lock. I’d make Joshua a 1-5 favorite against either Ortiz or Helenius. Both of those guys are very limited.
Go into bodybuilding, Josh.
At his height, he’d need to be 350+ pounds to be a bodybuilder. There’s a reason most pro bodybuilders are 6’ or under. It’s very difficult for a tall dude to carry that kind of mass.
Usyk is the real deal knew he would do it again..
Honestly seen harder sparring sessions than this. Usyk didn’t have to do much to keep a 250 pound man off him. AJ shows no physical presence for a guy his size, too stiff, and did he ever throw anything with bad intentions? Nope!
Great win for Usyk. He’s a real fighter, full of substance, resolve, character, determination, talent. I enjoy watching him fight. He was facing a bigger man here, who has the look of a world beater, and masterfully proved his superiority, yet again. Back to the drawing board for Joshua. Be interesting to see what they both do going forward.
It was a good world title fight, Uysk once again beats a improved AJ . The boxer negates power puncher . AJ peaked in the Klitschko fight on limited experience back then . He did the best he could do against a far more experienced fighter. No more no less. Tyson prob won’t want to fight Uysk. Cruiserweight speed and power can make him look bad!
spot on!!
Uysk boxes very similar to Michael Spinks , so very difficult to hit clean and anticipates and throes awkward punches and a lot of them , all in all AJ was improved and was hurting Uysk up close and almost stopped him in round 9. Round 10 Uysk goes light speed or cruisers weight speed as my son says , and just takes over . AJ as nothing to be ashamed about . Let’s see now if Tyson Fury comes out to fight Usyk or just wants to claim he is the best by only beating the limited hard punching Wilder .
AJ is definitely a new breed heavyweight
Usyk is a better fighter than Fury but he’s way too small to beat Fury..
Fury is going to put his fridge on Usyk all night long who is going to finish ko by exhaustion lol !
I said all week that I would not watch this fight for free because I felt after the 1st fight this was just a ppv to milk the public, and I also mentioned that Joshua could never beat a serious fighter like Usyk.Anyway as far as I’m concerned there is only one champion and that is by FAAAAR Tyson Fury.As for other hwt action,Wilder vs Helenius is I.M.O a very dangerous fight for both men, and one mistake either fighter could lose.
Why punish yourself?
Who will buy this rubbish two pure boxers won’t sell in England give it on Saudia Arabia nobody cares
fury will get tired against usyk
Aj bad looser ,AGAIN
I think Usyk would get tired, with Fury leaning on him, mauling him, all the things he did to Wilder. I think it would tire out a smaller man like Usyk. And I’m not too sure Usyk’s power would bother Fury all that much. But it would be an interesting matchup imo.
Usyk wont be standing around for Fury to lean on him ,its going to shock alot of people when Usyk makes Fury look sloppy and ordinary I can hardly wait.
As predicted this was an easy fight for usyk. I don’t see how you can give AJ more than 4 rds in this one.
If they fight:
Wilder Ko’s Joshua because Joshua just don’t have that dog in him.
Fury ko’s Usyk. Size makes a difference and Fury is a giant with skills. Usyk will make it interesting but Fury will lean on him, tie him, and use the long jab when necessary.
AJ blew his load in the 9th. Just like Wilder was done after 4. Better/more stamina was sacrificed for heavy strength training. Usually a big mistake. Get back to the road work guys.