Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 LIVE: Result and reaction as Usyk wins thrilling fight by split decision
Follow the reaction as Usyk beats AJ in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia before some bizarre post-fight shenanigans
Oleksandr Usyk retained his world heavyweight titles with a split decision win over Anthony Joshua on Saturday in a rematch in Saudi Arabia that was closer than last year’s first fight.
Both fighters held up the blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag as the judges’ scores were read out at King Abdullah Sport City arena. When he was declared the winner, Usyk hid his face behind the flag. The 35-year-old Usyk kept his WBA, WBO and IBF belts six months after serving in the Ukrainian army as part of the country’s defence against Russia’s invasion.
Joshua was much improved but Usyk demonstrated his technical brilliance to triumph 115-113, 116-112, 113-115 on the scorecards. After the fight, Joshua stormed out of the ring before returning and giving a bizarre speech to the crowd.
Follow reaction from Joshua’s defeat below:
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Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk reacts to win over Joshua
Usyk on the fight: “This is already history. Many generations watch this fight, especially the round, when somebody tried to beat me hard, but I stood there and turned it in a different way.
“Yes, of course [I thought I won].”
Usyk on Fury: “I’m sure that Fury is not retired yet. I’m convinced he wants to fight me, I want to fight him, if I’m not fighting Fury, I’m not fighting at all.
“Only God knows if I will be undisputed or not. All these gentlemen around me, my team, they’ll help me.
“Thanks Lord for everything.”
Usyk reacts to win over Joshua
Usyk: "I want to thank everybody who prayed for me. I want to thank God for the help he gave me. My lord is Jesus Christ.
“Thank you so much.”
Usyk then asked about the people back in Ukraine watching.
He adds: “I devote this victory to my country, my family, my team, military defending the country. Thank you very much.”
Joshua reacts to Usyk defeat
Joshua: “I’m not a 12-round fighter. They say, ‘he doesn’t throw combinations like Sonny Liston.’ Yes, that’s because I’m 18 stone, I’m a big guy!”
Usyk vs Joshua 2
Joshua: “This guy is a phenomenal talent, how many belts you got bro, five? Hip-hip, horay!
“I studied all your champions, what’s happening there, I don’t know, but I know it’s not nice.
“There were issues in Ukraine. Klitschko vs Williams. Usyk, under those circumstances, he became champ.”
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Usyk retains world heavyweight titles by split decision
Fireworks set off outside the dome.
Joshua is furious for some reason? Marching back to the dressing room.
But he’s back now, grabbing two of the belts, the ring belt and the WBA Super belt, he then chucks them down.
Joshua to Usyk: “Skills win boxing, you’re not strong, how did you beat me? I had character!
“Usyk one hell of a fighter, that’s just emotion. Please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world.”
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Usyk retains world heavyweight titles by split decision
115-113 for Joshua. 115-113 to Usyk....
And 116-112 for the winner by split decision... AND STILL! Usyk wins!
Some late drama there, with the Glenn Feldman card, controversial?
Both men hold the Ukraine flag aloft. Great respect between the fighters.
Usyk vs Joshua 2
We go to the cards but there’s surely only one winner. This is Usyk’s fight and he’ll retain the belts barring an absolute robbery.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 12
This has been a valiant performance by Joshua and an improvement on the first fight but Usyk is such a clean fighter.
The Brit lands a body shot but he needs to go big now. Risk or reward for AJ now.
Usyk still keeping him at range although Joshua throws a right that wobbles the champ slightly!
Usyk getting underneath Joshua’s shots, spinning out and not getting pinned on the ropes. Joshua looks tired and into the final minute, he takes a couple of lefts to the head.
Last few seconds and it gets scrappy as the men clinch and almost run around the ring together. He’s going to come up short here.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 11
Both men starting to throw bigger shots and Joshua will know he probably needs a knockout.
Joshua goes back to the body but Usyk still buzzing out of range. Body shot in the middle of the round looks to hurt Usyk slightly!
He recovers and lands some pot-shots from range. Both fighters starting to look tired and the referee has to separate an extended clinch late on.
Joshua probably needs a 12th round knockout.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 10
Usyk starts fast, buzzing in and throwing hard and fast.
Left hand but Joshua takes it well, big power shots, Joshua again standing tall.
Did AJ anger him in that last round? This is the most spiteful Usyk has been in the rematch.
Big shot from Joshua! Usyk shaken. Massive shift in momentum.
What a round and we’re heading for a thrilling conclusion.
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