Anthony Joshua suffered his second professional defeat after a unanimous decision loss to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
Joshua who went into the fight as favourite, was on the back foot from the opening bell as Usyk made a fast start to his attempt to become a two-weight world champion.
And Usyk had Joshua in trouble at several points in the fight – and almost stopped him in the dying seconds with Joshua finishing the bout backed up on the ropes.
And after the thrilling contest all three judges then awarded the fight to Usyk by scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113.
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Joshua was defending his three world titles for the second time since snatching them back from Andy Ruiz Jr two years ago.
He had been out the ring since stopping Kubrat Pulev last Christmas – and had been poised to fight fellow world champion and WBC holder Tyson Fury this summer.
But Fury was instead ordered to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time, leaving Joshua to accept the challenge of Usyk.
The Ukrainian bulked up to heavyweight having conquered the cruiserweight division.
He stopped Chazz Witherspoon on his debut before outpointing Derek Chisora behind closed doors.
And 67,000 fans packed into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to see whether he could dethrone Joshua which he eventually did.
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COMMENTS
Joshua is the most lazy heavy weight boxer I have ever seen in my life…..no stamina no brute Force no body movement nothing……how did he get those belts at the first place…..I think the world boxing body should investigate Joshua for bribery……I regret watch his fight live for the first time.
Relax, Joshua is good. He dumped his style, the style he used to defeat Klitchko, in order to play safe. Since Ruiz defeated him, he changed his style. Unfortunately, Usyk is on another level. He is class when it comes to boxing. The only way I saw Joshua winning the fight was by KO. But he went in there to win by decision. That wasn’t going to happen against Usyk.
All this one is Grammer…… you and I know that Joshua is just overrated…..did you watch the match????…even his trainers where embarrassed to their bones……At a time I was wondering weather he was sick or injured……am not upset that he lost but I am upset that he made it look so easy for his opponent……he didn’t land a single punch in the match……just dancing with the guy and allowing the guy land easy punches……Efe Ajagba will destroy this guy that defeated Joshua in 5 minutes
Real boxing fans knew this would be the outcome.usyk is a far more better fighter than Joshua,they guy has been in camp for months preparing,he has not even seen his family for sometime because of this fight.
Joshua literally fainted at the end of that match…..he was saved by the bell….. resting on the rope like dodo looking at is opponent(a division below his division) like someone begging for Mercy…..he couldn’t even stand up for the referees pronouncement after he was been treated for minutes he couldn’t even stand on his feet……. gasping for breath until his manager shouted at him to stand up for the judgment……Joshua is a disgrace to heavy weight boxing…..Abeg England we dash una this one……If this dude meets fury then we are definitely carrying his corpse to the mortuary……Joshua should never be allowed to wear those belts again……. heavy weight boxing deserve better people
Am pained that the time I should’ve spent on some other stuffs was wasted watching AJ put up that show of shame
Funny enough, Tyson Fury aptly predicted the outcome. Pls try and read his views few days ago concerning Joshua’s tactics. He specifically predicted an upset for the underdog should the match go the distance. His argument was that AJ lacks stamina
Whats happening to all these Nigerian boxing champions. First the Nigerian nightmare now A.J. I hope its not a trend.
Aj really messed up today I now accept what fury calls him ..a body builder. Just imagine what you did in front of English fans. That guy can’t beat dillian white talk of fury
He was just a dissappointment.
Don’t mind AJ instead of him to focus and train hard. He is always busy following DJ Cuppy upndan
Nigerians can be too funny, so because the guy lost this match now, he is been called all sort of names. Anybody can has his or her off days at any time, yes agreed he was poor in that match but that takes nothing away from his charisma as an exceptional fighter.
For someone to have won 25 out of 27 bouts with about 12 or 14 KO na beans?
Common guys let’s be reasonable for once, we can’t be winning every time, and anytime we loose, we get encouraged to bounce back stronger and better.
Only himself and God knows what happened to him in that fight, but am convinced that wasn’t the iron AJ we know
@Ola
Couldn’t agree more.
Kind of disappointed by the comments on AJ but far from surprise. As they say, “failure has no father”.
The fact is , to back up @onwajunior above;
Style makes fight. Usyk style was far superior to that of AJ on the night. He was faster, precise and fitter. AJ was trying to beat Usyk in his own game and that wasn’t going to happen.
Since his shock loss to Ruiz ,AJ has lost that grit he came in with. That power puncher with stamina. That grit made him.
If he ever needs to regain his belts; he simply needs to readjust. To be honest, it is a tall order right now; Usyk is that good. But never say never. It all starts in the mind.
For what’s worth, it was a good match for boxing fans.
Well said at Hush
I watched the fight and i was disappointed at Aj.He ran out of ideas,he has the chance to finish Usyk in round 6th,i expected him to come out with force against him in round 7th but Usyk was too good for him.
what baffles me was in round 5 or so,he almost knocked down,most times it is nt by building body,at round 8,the scores was level which i expect his trainer to ask him to change style….
To me,he should just forget the rematch,he will still loose….and that would be a big shame,he should resign from boxing,Usyk is nt Ruiz…..
I swear Tyson or Furry will bury Aj in round 3…..
He doesnt have the stamina to go distance……no energy cos he has used that to build muscles,he cant even move,too static and robot…
Up Usyk