Anthony Joshua vs Usyk LIVE: Fight result, reaction and boxing highlights
Follow live reaction after the Briton lost his IBF, WBO and WBA titles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Follow live coverage after Oleksandr Usyk produced a flawless display of boxing to beat Anthony Joshua and dethrone him as world heavyweight champion.
The former unified cruiserweight champion was punch perfect as he hurt Joshua early and often on his way to a deserved and unanimous points victory (117-112, 116-112, 115-113) in front of more than 63,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Ukrainian’s performance hands Joshua only the second professional defeat of his career in just his third fight at heavyweight and leaves hopes of an all-British clash with Tyson Fury in tatters.
Instead a rematch to attempt win back his IBF, WBO and WBA straps will surely be next after a chastening evening for the now former champ. Follow live reaction and analysis below from a big night of boxing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
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Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Marku vs Prodan
Marku wants more. He wanted to make a statement this evening but instead he has been met with a highly motivated Maxim Prodan who is keen to upset the applecart in London.
The Romanian’s engine is truly remarkable. He has not stopped throwing since the beginning of the fight. Whether it’s of much quality or not is up for debate. Marku’s ability to switch between orthodox and southpaw has certainly enabled him to work the jab in between the moving guard of Prodan.
The final three minutes are coming up.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Marku vs Prodan
Right at the end of the seventh round Marku lifts both his arms up as if to tell Prodan he is enjoying this and wants more. But the Albanian knows his Romanian opponent is getting on top now.
A lovely left hook from Prodan looks to affect Marku momentarily but he stands tall and continues to trade. An all action contest.
Prodan gets Marku backed up onto the ropes and let’s his hands go at the start of the eighth, showing superb speed. Most of the shots hit the gloves of Marku though and then he comes back with some nice combinations of his own.
Very little in these rounds now. Both men beginning to let bombs fly. That jab of Marku’s may catch the eye, but Prodan has come on very strong.
Into the last two we go.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Marku vs Prodan
The fans who have entered the stadium early doors are being treated to a lovely little contest here.
Prodan with a better round in the sixth as he snaps back the head of Marku. Heating up now and the crowd (or what there is of them) are loving it.
Marku’s face is looking quite marked up. He’ll know he’s been in a brawl.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Marku vs Prodan
Marku gets on top in the fourth and begins to let his right hand go with a little more frequency. Prodan is the busier man, continually trying to walk Marku down but the Albanian is picking him off.
Lovely jab from Marku in the fifth as we reach the halfway mark of this ten (not eight) round contest. Some nice body work as well from Marku. Prodan is still marching forward and offloads some nice hooks to the body inside the final 20 seconds.
Think Marku has won all but one of the first five rounds here. A good performance so far. Fun fight as well.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Look who’s in the building? Another heavyweight contender has entered the building but it’s not Joshua or Usyk. The big man Dillian Whyte is here. He will have one eye on the winner of tonight’s main event.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Marku vs Prodan
Starting to shape up nicely, this fight. It’s a ten rounder so we are already nearly a quarter of the way through.
Prodan goes down inside the first minute of the third but it was clearly a push and not a punch that caused him to hit the canvas. No knockdown says the referee. The Albanian contingent high up in the stadium are furious, not sure why though - was a clear push.
Marku with some nice dodging and diving. He then follows up those feints with some lovely stiff jabs down the pipe. The better quality came from the Albanian but there is no doubt Prodan is very busy.
Round 4 coming up.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk plus undercard
Marku vs Prodan
We kick off the action immediately with Florian Marku against Maxim Prodan in a welterweight contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This one had a bit of needle in the pre-fight press conference as the pair traded insults. It is Marku who has made the better start with a perfect jab.
Marku happy to box off the back foot and dominate the opening round. Prodan comes back with a few body shots of his own at the start of the second and probably did enough to take the round but you feel it’s the Albanian Marku who still looks in control.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk
Here is the undercard for tonight (in no particular order). We are beginning with Marku vs Prodan.
- Callum Smith vs Lenin Castillo
- Campbell Hatton vs Izan Dura
- Florian Marku vs Maxim Prodan
- Christopher Ousley vs Khasan Baysangurov
- Daniel Lapin vs Pawel Martyniuk
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk
Are you guys ready?
We are just a few hours away from the biggest heavyweight fight of 2021 so far. Anthony Joshua defends his three world titles against the undefeated, former undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
A simply mouthwatering prospect this evening. Cannot. Wait.
Anthony Joshua fights Oleksandr Usyk
Follow live coverage as Anthony Joshua fights Oleksandr Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his latest defence of his unified world heavyweight titles.
The Briton, who holds the IBF, WBO and WBA belts, takes on the former undisputed cruiserweight world champion, with the Ukrainian banking an opportunity to become a two-weight world champion in just his third fight since moving up in weight.
A brutal knockout of Kubrat Pulev last time out reestablished AJ’s power, but a contractual clause prevented an all-British undisputed fight against WBC champion Tyson Fury, who is now set for a third fight with Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas next month.
While Usyk dealt with a rough and rugged Derek Chisora over 12 energy-sapping rounds, setting up an intriguing stylistic battle with AJ tonight.
Follow all the latest throughout the night right here.
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