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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Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 9
Constant movement from Usyk, but Joshua still using the jab well.
Then steps in, the right comes into play, Usyk bends over, the uppercuts poured on. Classic AJ!
Usyk is in trouble, it seems, he’s shifting across the ring, looking for a breather.
AJ senses blood, huge round, his best of the fight.
That was a look to the corner from Usyk, he’s under huge pressure. A huge deep breath. Joshua on top there.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 8
It’s a pause in the action, the canvas needs to be cleaned. It’s too wet.
Usyk looks down to Lomachenko, he’s happy with how things are going.
Macklin has it 5-1 to Usyk with one even round.
“He’s getting outlanded, the head snapping back. Joshua needs to go to the body more.”
Joshua lands! Big left to the body, and again, thudding impact. Usyk took it well, then a flurry of shots bounce around AJ’s face and guard.
Great body work from AJ, multiple shots poured in there, he grabs hold for a breather. Will this work take the legs away fro Usyk? AJ getting spun around now, Usyk launching a big left hook from range, Joshua back to the body, which manages to get the Ukrainian on his bike once more. Great round, that.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 7
Both men come together, holding with one arm each. AJ tries to go to the body with his loose hand.
Is the canvas becoming an issue? Sweat making it slippy again, like the Hrgovic vs Zheng fight.
Usyk takes a right hand, but Usyk with his own back hand landing.
Both men using goo upperbody movement there. Joshua’s range is good, making Usyk work very hard, but not landing enough to take these rounds.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 6
Usyk also targeting the body then a right goes high and tags Joshua.
AJ with a wild left that misses. A mark above Joshua’s right eye, it’s swollen.
Joshua pushing out the jab, then a good right. Usyk then jumps up and maybe pushes his shoulder in?
Nice pressure from AJ with Usyk against the ropes.
But Usyk quickly resets and lands a combination.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 5
Joshua growing in confidence here, pushing the right hand down to the body.
Usyk down to the body too, but the response is there. Joshua goes low, Usyk limps away, he complains, too low?
Usyk back out quick, to give him credit. Joshua down low again. A clear tactic.
A right from Usyk as Joshua’s jab fell.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 4
Joshua looks focused, the jab is working, forcing Usyk to work hard.
A right from AJ that might have squeezed home.
Lovely left hand from Usyk, Joshua throwing the uppercut to keep his opponent away from the body too.
Close round again.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 3
Joshua can build on that round you’d think. Usyk in a rhythm though.
Usyk with a combination up close for the first time.
Nice shoulder movement too, Joshua then grapples, working the body, but not for long, the Ukrainian slips away.
Joshua lunges with the uppercut. Narrowly misses. But then lands a right near the end of the round. Another Usyk round? It was close.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 2
Lots of talk in AJ’s corner there, too much?
Usyk hovering in front, buzzing from side to side, impeccable lateral movement. Joshua concentrating well, throws a jab.
Straight left from usyk lands from range. Another. Joshua undeterred but yet to unload.
Usyk’s roun again, but just at the bell, a right to the body, a crucial shot you’d think if AJ is to win this fight.
Usyk vs Joshua 2: Round 1
Usyk prays in his corner. It begins!
Joshua in all black shorts and gloves with red strapping. White boots with silver and green trim.
Usyk with white shorts and the blue and yellow colours of Ukraine around his belt.
Joshua bending at the waste nicely, Usyk pushing the jab out as a range-finder. AJ eyeing the right to the body.
A jab to the body from AJ now, Usyk circling nicely, processing information, then lands a left down the middle. Beautiful up jab from Usyk lands.
The fighters come together, grappling, is this what AJ wants? A bullet left from Usyk snaps AJ’s head back. It’s a close round, but possibly leaning to the champ.
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