Professional boxer Oleksandr Usyk prevailed in the heavyweight spectacle. For the Ukrainian, the boxing match was about much more than just sport.
Ukrainian professional boxer Oleksandr Usyk remains four-time world heavyweight champion. The 35-year-old defeated former British champion Anthony Joshua for the second time on Sunday night in the Superdome in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
Usyk retained his belts from the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO associations after the narrow points judgment (115:113, 113:115, 116:112). Joshua had lost his title to the then challenger in September 2021 in a points defeat at Tottenham Hotspur’s football stadium in London and now missed a revenge.
For the favorite Usyk it was the 20th victory in the 20th professional fight of his career. The brilliant technician was able to make up for his physical disadvantage of four centimeters less reach and again defeated the three centimeters taller Joshua. Almost a year ago, Usyk gave the Brit a boxing lesson, and it was much more balanced in the second duel. However, Joshua could not avoid his third defeat as a professional and should now face a difficult future.
Frustrated Joshua
When Anthony Joshua was sporty on the ground, he also missed his reputation as everyone’s darling with a confused performance. The completely frustrated Joshua threw two of the Ukrainian’s world championship belts on the ground, stormed out of the ring in frustration – and returned for an abstruse and with swear words littered speech back. Instead of letting Usyk take the spotlight, he disrespectfully stole the moment of triumph from the deserved champion.
“It was a human reaction. He really wanted to win, he had so much pressure on his shoulders and he just blew up because he lost and was devastated,” said Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn. “What Usyk showed in the tenth, eleventh and twelfth rounds was incredible. That was the difference. He was like a train. He’s just too good and there’s no shame in losing.”
Congratulations to President Zelenskyy
For the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his compatriot’s victory also has a highly symbolic effect. “Difficult, but so important and necessary victory! Defending the world title is a symbol that all those who belong to the Cossacks will not give up their title, but will fight for it and will definitely win!” Zelenskyy tweeted and congratulated Usyk on his success against former British champion Anthony Joshua.
For Usyk, the duel was more than just a boxing match, but it should also give hope to his compatriots in a dark time of war. The boxer made it possible for the world championship fight in Ukraine to be followed free of charge on state television and in the live stream. Usyk volunteered for a month in the war of aggression launched by Russia, but then, at the urging of his compatriots, decided to fight as a boxer again.
Fury accepts unification fight offer
Retired WBC champion Tyson Fury is looking to return to the ring for a unification match against four-time champion Usyk. “Send me in the ring and I’ll relieve that Ukrainian bum of his belt like I did the last Ukrainian bum,” Fury said in a video released after Usyk’s win over Anthony Joshua. “But it’s not going to be cheap. If you want the best, you’ll have to pay. It’s going to be very expensive, so get those checkbooks out.”
Fury had dethroned Usyk’s Ukrainian compatriot Wladimir Klitschko as four-time world champion in Düsseldorf in 2015. Actually, the “Gypsy King” didn’t want to get in the ring anymore, he had confirmed this a few days ago. But Usyk made him an offer for a heavyweight spectacle in the ring after his second triumph over Joshua: “I’m sure Fury hasn’t really resigned and he wants to fight me. I want to fight him and if I don’t fight Fury , I don’t fight at all.”
However, whether the pithy words will actually be followed by a fight is completely open. There are rumors that the duel will take place in Saudi Arabia in December. But both parties still have to come to an agreement in tough negotiations. Fury has until August 26 to explain to the WBC whether he is returning his world title belt or moving on. (dpa)