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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Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision
A special kind of fighter.
Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision
Usyk has got it!!! On all three judges scorecards - 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. There shall be no robbery tonight!
Usyk deservedly becomes the NEW heavyweight champion of the world. Anthony Joshua’s second reign as champion has come to an end.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk
As we wait for the scorecards, let’s get one thing absolutely straight. That was one of THE great boxing displays from a sensational, remarkable, once-in-a-generation fighter.
Take a bow, Oleksandr Usyk. Let’s hope he doesn’t get robbed.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Round 12
Do we have a new world heavyweight champion? Oleksandr Usyk looks to have done it!
A nice left hook lands for Usyk at the start of the 12th and final round. Joshua answers with a decent left hook of his own but it’s not got the power that it had at the start of the fight.
Usyk knows he just needs to evade and stay out of trouble now. The Ukrainian has put on an absolute MASTERCLASS here tonight.
He begins to pepper Joshua down the pipe! Can the challenge force a stoppage? Not quite, but absolutely takes it to Joshua at the end! The champion can barely stand. He sticks his tongue out as the bell sounds.
I’ve got Usyk at least four rounds up.
We go to the official scorecards.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Round 11
Usyk comes out swinging in round 11! He is faster now than he was at the start of the fight! Joshua rides the wave of Ukrainian punches well and manages to get a bit of respite.
Joshua comes back with some good right hands! These last two rounds could be so crucial and both men know it. They’re single punches from the champion but they are scoring ones.
The corner have done well with the swelling but they can’t help him in the ring and Usyk lands several times once more. The power in Joshua’s punches has seeped away a little now, he looks tired.
The bell goes. However you’ve seen this, surely Joshua needs a knockout now?
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Round 10
Nine minutes remaining. You feel now that - with good judges - Usyk is probably at least three rounds up heading into the final three here. Will Joshua need to look for the knockout soon?
Joshua tries the uppercut but it is miles away from landing. The champion’s face looks a bit messed up now as the rounds tick by and he continues to eat leather from the technically supreme Ukrainian. The two Olympic gold medallists have not disappointed here, this is a fight of the highest quality.
Oh, hang on! A cut from the eye of Usyk and that has galvanised Joshua! He marches forward and the crowd are up - they are trying to push him on!
But that’s not good for Joshua - a lot of swelling on the right eye! The bell goes.
Championship rounds incoming.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Round 9
Joshua gets a warning at the beginning of the ninth for holding Usyk’s head while trying to offload on the Ukrainian. You feel the latter rounds would favour the bigger man as the punches begin to wear on Usyk. But will that come to fruition?
Another cagey first half of the round and those lulls in the action tend to favour Usyk as he is able smartly coax his way through proceedings.
Joshua swings and misses with a right hook that he attempts to turn into an uppercut. The uppercut has not been used at all so far from the champion - usually his flagship shot.
Got to be another Usyk round.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Round 8
This is a special, special fight. Utterly absorbing.
Usyk does not look tired but that can all change with a big shot from Joshua. The champion does try to open the challenger up but Usyk blocks it with his lead hand.
Joshua is beginning to throw more frequently - he will know he is down on the cards as it stands. A nice body shot from Joshua has Usyk drifting backwards. The Ukrainian marches forward once more though, his volume of punches has not dropped since the first round.
Some good work from Joshua and a lovely right hook to the body finishes the round positively for the champion.
This is very, very close.
Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk: Round 7
Joshua has got his tail up now. He knows he hurt Usyk a little towards the end of that sixth round. Still a long way to go.
The champion is growing into this fight but Usyk is very experienced, he knows how to break the momentum of a fighter.
Joshua with a nice left hook to the body as he backs Usyk up but the Ukrainian snaps back with a lovely left hook of his own to the temple of the champion. Just as you think it’s turning the way of Joshua, Usyk fires back with a few shots of his own.
OH! There’s a huge shot from Usyk! He sends Joshua tumbling backwards but the Brit does not go down. It was a bit of a trip but he was also hurt. Massive from Usyk there.
A very good round and as the bell sounds Joshua jokingly pretends to throw another punch. Usyk laughs it off. Nothing is phasing either of these men.
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