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 …

Boxing / Sports

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2: Rematch set to take place in Saudi Arabia in August

The rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk is finally set. The two will meet on Aug. 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia with Usyk’s unified heavyweight titles on the line.

Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, moved to heavyweight in October 2019, beating Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora before facing off with Joshua this past September. Despite entering the fight as an underdog, Usyk thoroughly outboxed Joshua over 12 rounds to take the fight by scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113.

Joshua is a former Olympic gold medalist who tore through the pro ranks, winning two world titles while knocking out each of his first 20 pro opponents. In his 21st bout, Joshua beat Joseph Parker to win the WBO title, putting him in control of three of boxing’s four recognized world titles at heavyweight.

Then came a shocking upset knockout at the hands of Andy Ruiz Jr. Joshua would defeat Ruiz in the rematch to regain his titles — coincidentally, that rematch also took place in Saudi Arabia. The winner of the clash could move on to pursue the WBC championship. That title is currently held by Tyson Fury, though Fury indicated his most recent win, a knockout of Dillian Whyte, would be his last fight as a professional boxer, leaving some mystery as to what would happen to the WBC title should Fury decide to actually hang up his gloves.…

Boxing / Sports

‘I want to live’: Oleksandr Usyk ready for time off after biggest fight

Heavyweight champion said his corner helped him execute his plan, while a pensive Anthony Joshua will analyze mistakes. The new champion walked in first, just after one in the morning, with his face bearing the brutal realities of heavyweight boxing. Despite his dominant defeat of Anthony Joshua on Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Oleksandr Usyk wore the marks of battle. A jagged cut ran above his right brow while his bruised skin had turned a shade of burst violet below that same eye. The swollen mouse beneath his left eye was even more prominent and a reminder that Usyk had fought 12 rounds against a world champion who weighed 19 pounds more than him.

Usyk is not a small man but he also gave away four inches in reach and three inches in height. Yet in the final moments of the last round the usually imposing figure of Joshua, who is 6ft 6in, had sagged against the ropes as Usyk came close to winning by stoppage.

A singular character, who is as intelligent as he is amusing, Usyk was nonchalant as he sat down to address his stunning rise in boxing’s premier division to become the new IBF, WBA and WBO world champion in only his third fight as a heavyweight. When someone asked him to break down his fight strategy, for this had been a dazzling display, he spoke in Ukrainian. His fellow countrymen and women laughed before the translator tried to inject some of that comedy into English.

“The plan was just to walk in, to see, to start. So we went in, we saw, we started and then in the 12th round they said speed up and so I did and then they said: ‘….and the new [heavyweight champion of the world].’ So that was the plan.”

Usyk continued in more serious vein. “I tried a few times [for the stoppage]. I put my speed into it. I punched him a couple of times but then I was losing rhythm. I went back to my …

Boxing / News

Anthony Joshua’s intimidating physique will soon be revealed – but is he built for speed or power?

Unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua collides with undefeated Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, the WBO mandatory challenger, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office. Britain’s heavyweight star will have a final face-off with Oleksandr Usyk at today’s weigh-in before their world title fight on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports Box Office. But has Joshua packed on muscle or shed pounds for his crucial showdown with Usyk?…

Boxing / Sports

Anthony Joshua Wants To ‘Outskill’ Oleksandr Usyk – Says Eddie Hearn

Anthony Joshua wants to beat challenger Oleksandr Usyk with his technical skills rather than relying on his superior size when they meet in the headliner this month on September 25th at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in London, England.

Joshua’s technical skills must be up to par for his fight with Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) because the Ukrainian fighter is too talented for AJ to run over like a truck using his size alone to win. It may prove to be difficult for Joshua to ‘out-skill’ Usyk the way that Hearn wants him to because he’s always been technically flawed.

We’ve seen in the past that Joshua struggle with cardio issues when he’s tried for knockouts. He got away with gassing out against Dillian Whyte, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin.

In Joshua’s loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in their first fight in June 2019, he was exhausted after hurting the American. Ruiz Jr. took advantage of it and dropped him.

Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) is leaning down slightly, but not as much as some boxing fans think.

According to Hearn, Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) will weigh close to the same amount he did for his second fight with Andy Ruiz Jr. in December 2019 and his last title defense against Kubrat Pulev in 2021.

Usyk Best-Skilled Fighter Joshua Has Faced

“Skill wise, he’s definitely the best fighter he’s faced,” said Eddie Hearn to about Usyk being the best technical fighter Joshua will have faced.

“I mean, he’s a pound-for-pound top five fighter. Powerwise in the division, he’s [Joshua] fought some big punchers. Dillian Whyte, Klitschko, Andy Ruiz as well and many others.

“[Kubrat] Pulev can punch as well. I don’t think Usyk carries the power of those guys, but he still carries power. It can be awkward this fight. It can be tricky.

“I don’t think Joshua buys into the ‘Too big, too strong.’ He doesn’t want to rely on his size in this fight. He wants to not only out-skill Usyk, but he wants to be able to compete with …

Boxing / Sports

Oleksandr Usyk’s team optimistic a fight with Anthony Joshua will be agreed soonest

The WBO ordered Joshua to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Usyk after the breakdown of his planned undisputed title fight with Tyson Fury. Joshua and Usyk were given until May 31 to negotiate terms before the fight will be decided via purse bids. But Joshua is also considering other opponents, his promoter Eddie Hearn has said.

 

Joshua holds the IBF, WBA and WBO titles but his desired opponent Fury was told to defend his WBC belt against Deontay Wilder by a court of arbitration.

“We are in the middle of negotiations now and things look optimistic,” Usyk’s promoter Alexander Krassyuk told Sky Sports about talks with Joshua’s representative Hearn.

“As long as I am informed there are no visible obstacles to the deal not to take place, hopefully, it will be completed within the rendered timing.”…