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:
Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua in heavyweight title rematch with split decision victory
Tyson Fury says he would ‘annihilate’ Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in one night after Ukrainian’s win 
Anthony Joshua ‘left out to dry by his team’ during post-fight outburst, says Frazer Clarke
Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua lost a split decision to Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah at midnight on Saturday. That is the simple truth, the raw facts and they only tell part of the story of the fight and the night.
It was a fight of tremendous intensity in each of the twelve rounds; it was draining, not brutal and at about 4am, Joshua was in tears as he tried to explain his journey. It meant that much to him, he lost that much and he came so close.
Usyk won the fight because he won the last three rounds and that is what champions do. Joshua had a brilliant, a staggering, ninth round, when he pushed Usyk back, hit the Ukrainian maestro with lefts and rights to body, head, shoulder and groin. It was the round Joshua needed, but he needed twelve of them and not just the one.
Steve Bunce reacts to a night to remember in Jeddah:
Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
A second defeat to Usyk left the Briton heartbroken and contemplating his journey late into the night
Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua in heavyweight title rematch with split-decision victory
There have been many different Anthony Joshuas over the years. There has been Anthony Joshua the model, the businessman, the Olympian, the juggernaut, the impostor.
So, which was the version marauding around the ring in Jeddah on Saturday night, microphone in hand, beaten but bellowing of passion, respect, and war?
The sharp jawline was there, just a little more mobile than usual. The pragmatic mind must have been there, if somewhat rattled within his skull. The Team GB logo was present, inked onto the Briton’s bruised skin, underneath the sticky sweat. As it was, every Joshua was accounted for on this Saudi summer night. All plus this possessed, perturbed version.
Alex Pattle’s full fight night report:
Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua in title rematch with split-decision victory
The Ukrainian triumphed 115-113, 116-112, 113-115 on the scorecards in Saudi Arabia before Joshua gave a bizarre post-fight speech
Anthony Joshua ‘left out to dry by his team’ during post-fight outburst, says Frazer Clarke
Anthony Joshua was “left out to dry by his team”, who should have stopped him during his post-fight outburst following defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, says Frazer Clarke.
After an enthralling heavyweight world title fight rematch that Usyk won by split decision, an emotional Joshua firstly stormed out of the ring before returning, chucking away a couple of the belts and then taking the microphone to give an odd speech to the crowd.
The bizarre scenes slightly overshadowed Usyk’s moment, although the Brit was speaking from the heart and was largely complimentary of the Ukrainian.
Anthony Joshua ‘left out to dry by his team’ during post-fight outburst
Joshua gave a bizarre speech to the crowd following his split decision defeat in Saudi Arabia
Tyson Fury says he would ‘annihilate’ AJ and Usyk in one night
Tyson Fury has labelled Oleksandr Usyk’s second win against Anthony Joshua as one of the ‘worst heavyweight title fights’ he has ever seen, declaring that he would beat both fighters in one night.
Usyk earned a split-decision win against Joshua in Saudi Arabia, retaining the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts against the Briton, whom the Ukrainian dethroned last September with a unanimous-decision victory.
Fury has claimed to be retired but has not yet relinquished the WBC heavyweight title, and the Briton hinted that he could return for a clash with Usyk to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion.
“After watching that, the both of them were s****,” said Fury, 33, in a video on Instagram. “It was one of the worst heavyweight title fights I’ve ever seen.”
Tyson Fury reacts as Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua again
Fury has claimed to be retired but hinted that he could return for a clash with Usyk to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion
Anthony Joshua’s post-fight outburst in full after Oleksandr Usyk defeat
Anthony Joshua has received criticism for his post-fight speech following his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Saturday night’s heavyweight world title fight.
Joshua was accused of “stealing Usyk’s moment” by former world champion Carl Froch after taking the microphone and giving a bizarre outburst to the crowd following his split decision loss in their world heavyweight title rematch.
Having gone down 115-113, 116-112, 113-115 on the scorecards after an improved performance in the rematch of their one-sided initial contest, Joshua stormed out of the ring before returning, chucking away a couple of the belts and then taking the microphone.
Anthony Joshua’s post-fight outburst in full after Oleksandr Usyk defeat
The heavyweight gave a bizarre speech after the split decision defeat to Usyk and was accused of stealing the Ukrainian’s moment
Piers Morgan called out for hypocrisy after calling Anthony Joshua’s post-match behaviour ‘embarrassing’
Piers Morgan is being called out for hypocrisy over comments he made about boxer Anthony Joshua.
On Saturday (20 August), Joshua was defeated by Oleksandr Usyk in their world heavyweight title rematch in Saudi Arabia. After, he stormed out of the ring before returning to deliver a “bizarre” speech.
The world of sport and entertainment have been commenting on Joshua’s post-match behaviour.
Morgan wrote on Twitter after the match had ended: “Embarrassing antics at the end by Joshua. He was beaten by a superior fighter who put on a magnificent performance of highly-skilled, supremely resilient boxing.”
However, many are pointing out that Morgan did something similar in March 2021.
Piers Morgan called hypocrite for comments on ‘embarrassing’ Anthony Joshua
‘He just did what you did though,’ one person replied
Anthony Joshua explains erratic behaviour after Oleksandr Usyk defeat
Anthony Joshua broke down in tears before explaining that his erratic behaviour in the immediate aftermath of his thrilling defeat to Oleksandr Usyk was a consequence of the anger he felt towards himself.
Upon conceding a split decision in the fight in Jeddah, a furious Joshua stalked towards the changing room before returning to the ring, grabbing Usyk’s WBA and Ring Magazine belts and dropping them outside the ropes.
He then confronted Usyk, saying “you’re not strong, how did you beat me? How? I had character and determination”, before addressing the crowd with a confused rant about his past and his own shortcomings as a boxer.
‘I was mad at myself’: Anthony Joshua explains erratic behaviour after defeat
Joshua lost again to Usyk but received criticism for a bizarre post-fight speech in the ring
Watch as Anthony Joshua seizes microphone after defeat
Anthony Joshua seized a microphone to vent his frustrations after his rematch defeat before congratulating Oleksandr Usyk.
The British heavyweight said: “I could have done better, but it showed the hard work he must have put in to beat me.”
“I’m not a 12-round fighter. I am a new breed of heavyweight, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston - they say ‘he doesn’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano,’ because I’m not 14 stone. I am 18 stone, I am heavy,” AJ added.
AJ seizes microphone after the fight before congratulating Usyk
Anthony Joshua seized a microphone to vent his frustrations after his rematch defeat before congratulating Oleksandr Usyk.The British heavyweight said: “I could have done better, but it showed the hard work he must have put in to beat me.”“I’m not a 12-round fighter. I am a new breed of heavyweight, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston - they say ‘he doesn’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano,’ because I’m not 14 stone. I am 18 stone, I am heavy,” AJ added.The Ukrainian triumphed 115-113, 116-112, 113-115 on the scorecards in Saudi Arabia.Click here to sign up for our newsletters.
'Extremely important for my country': Usyk reflects on beating Joshua
Oleksandr Usyk hailed his heavyweight world title victory as “extremely important” win for his home country, Ukraine.
Anthony Joshua was defeated on split-decision at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Arena with scores of 113-115, 115-113,116-112.
Usyk’s WBA, IBF and WBO titles now set up the prospect of a unification clash with Tyson Fury.
“It was extremely important for my country, for my team, and personally for me. I boxed for the whole country,” Usyk said.
'Extremely important for my country': Usyk reflects on beating Joshua
Oleksandr Usyk hailed his heavyweight world title victory as "extremely important" win for his home country, Ukraine.Anthony Joshua was defeated on split-decision at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Arena with scores of 113-115, 115-113,116-112.Usyk's WBA, IBF and WBO titles now set up the prospect of a unification clash with Tyson Fury."It was extremely important for my country, for my team, and personally for me. I boxed for the whole country," Usyk said.Click here to sign up to our newsletters.
Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
Anthony Joshua lost a split decision to Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah at midnight on Saturday. That is the simple truth, the raw facts and they only tell part of the story of the fight and the night.
It was a fight of tremendous intensity in each of the twelve rounds; it was draining, not brutal and at about 4am, Joshua was in tears as he tried to explain his journey. It meant that much to him, he lost that much and he came so close.
Usyk won the fight because he won the last three rounds and that is what champions do. Joshua had a brilliant, a staggering, ninth round, when he pushed Usyk back, hit the Ukrainian maestro with lefts and rights to body, head, shoulder and groin. It was the round Joshua needed, but he needed twelve of them and not just the one.
By Steve Bunce in Jeddah
Anthony Joshua left broken and crushed by brave defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
A second defeat to Usyk left the Briton heartbroken and contemplating his journey late into the night
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