Boxing / News

Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk takes spectacular repeat victory over Anthony Joshua

Oleksandr Usyk took a second consecutive victory over Anthony Joshua to defend his unified WBO, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles over the course of an epic 12-round battle.

Usyk triumphed on a split decision at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, taking it 116-112 and 115-113 respectively on the cards of Ukraine’s Viktor Fesechko and Britain’s Steve Gray. Glenn Feldman of the USA scored 115-113 for Joshua.

The result infuriated Joshua. He picked up two championship belts and threw them out of the ring before storming off briefly.

Joshua then returned to seize the microphone and vent his emotions in a passionate outburst.

“I’m stealing this Usyk, I’m sorry, but it’s because of the passion we put into this,” Joshua told the crowd during his two-minute speech.

Usyk holds three of the four major heavyweight belts. There is one missing from his collection. Tyson Fury, ostensibly retired, still holds the WBC title. That’s the only fight Usyk is interested in.

“I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet,” the champion said. “I’m sure, I’m convinced he wants to fight me.

How champion Usyk rebuffed much-improved Joshua

Usyk did have to endure tremendous pressure from an implacable Joshua, who delivered a vastly-improved performance from their first fight in September.

Last year, after just two pro fights in the heavyweight division, Usyk outpointed Joshua in London in an outstanding performance. Formerly an undisputed champion down at cruiserweight, Usyk proved himself one of the best fighters pound-for-pound in the world today.

Joshua triggered an immediate rematch, determined to restore his place as a top-tier heavyweight. To that end he brought in a new trainer, Robert Garcia to join Angel Fernandez in his corner and devoted himself to rectifying the mistakes he made in the first fight.

Joshua had lost before meeting Usyk, but avenged his defeat against Andy Ruiz on his first visit to Saudi Arabia in 2019. He was fighting to become a three-time heavyweight champion and knew his legacy depended on victory tonight.

Both fighters were under …

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Richard Torrez is the USA’s super-heavyweight at Tokyo 2020

At the 2016 Olympics, the United States did not name a single boxer in the light-heavyweight, heavyweight or super-heavyweight divisions. A lineage that included Muhammad Ali was not just downtrodden, it was worse than that. It was totally forgotten. To resurrect an Olympic powerhouse in a marquee event is the task posed for Richard Torrez. No pressure, then. He is an impossibly cool, purpose-built athlete who would not look out of place in a US teen drama – “it’s just another day in the ring for me,” he smiles.

The sobering crash of the US heavyweight scene at Rio 2016 had been foreseen but not prevented.

Gone were the days of Ali (then Cassius Clay), Joe Frazier, George Foreman and Leon Spinks winning gold; Evander Holyfield, Riddick Bowe and Antonio Tarver adding medals in the biggest weight divisions.

Andre Ward won gold in 2004 as a light-heavyweight but the best big men that the US could muster were Devin Vargas and Jason Estrada. That number shrunk to just one in 2008 – Deontay Wilder, who won bronze. By 2012, Dominic Breazeale, Michael Hunter and Marcus Browne all crashed out in the first round leading to the complete absence of any American heavyweights four years later for the first time in nine Games.

Enter Richard Torrez.

Perhaps it was always going to require a super-heavyweight who has boxing coursing through his blood to provoke an upturn in fortunes. He is not a believer in fate but says: “If there is destiny, then this is mine.”

Torrez acknowledges that potential boxers instead chose to become NFL or NBA players but he tells Sky Sports from Tokyo: “I feel like boxing is its own niche. If a guy wants to go into football? That’s great. But you will always have that one guy who wants to fight.

“You will always have that one guy who wants to bite down on his mouthpiece and punch.

“So it’s not a major issue. Yes, it might take some of the guys out. But the great ones …

Boxing / Sports

Andy Ruiz Jr stood up Joshua’s power, but Otto Wallin can KO him – Salita

The Swedish heavyweight is eager to secure a big-name fight after his career-best win over Dominic Breazeale, a dominant points victory in February. “Otto and Andy gave the toughest challenge to two of the current world heavyweight champions,” promoter Dmitriy Salita hopes that Otto Wallin can secure a high stakes showdown with rival contender Andy Ruiz Jr.

 

Former unified champion Ruiz Jr sealed a unanimous decision win over Chris Arreola in May, and Salita hopes to guide his fighter Wallin into a high stakes showdown with the rival contender.

“Beating Breazeale the way he [Wallin] did shows how much he has improved since the Fury fight,” Salita said. “I am sure his size, skills and devotion to his craft is making world class fighters think twice about sharing the ring with him.

“Otto and Andy gave the toughest challenge to two of the current world heavyweight champions. It makes sense for them to fight, especially if Tyson Fury fights Anthony Joshua [in and undisputed world title fight].” Wallin emerged with credit from his only defeat, a bloody decision loss to Fury in September 2019, while Ruiz Jr stopped Anthony Joshua in June 2019, only to lose his world titles in an immediate rematch in December of that year.

Asked if Wallin could win by knockout, Salita said: “Definitely and I believe he has the skills, power and size to do it!”

Wallin has previously told Sky Sports that he hopes to earn a second fight with Fury, who went on to stop Deontay Wilder in his next fight to claim the WBC belt.

“My dream is to fight and win the world title so for right now I just have to keep fighting and improving so when I get the shot I’ll be ready to grab it with both hands,” said Wallin.

“The Tyson Fury rematch is not my top priority but I truly hope I get another shot at him.

“I just have to keep fighting and winning and show that I’m worthy of a rematch and when …