Oleksandr Usyk Dethrones Anthony Joshua By Unanimous Decision After Electric Battle
Oleksandr Usyk just earned the biggest win of his career.
In front of a crowd of 70,000, Usyk (19-0, 13 KOs) gained the WBA, WBO and IBF world titles, dethroning Anthony Joshua (24-2, 22 KOs) in his own backyard.
Usyk won with scorecards of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113.
Joshua left the fight with a potential “damaged eye socket,” according to Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, ESPN’s Mike Coppinger said.
Eddie Hearn has said Anthony Joshua WILL take the Oleksandr Usyk rematch: “The fighter in AJ is already talking about, ‘I’ll win the rematch.’ Usyk was the deserved winner. He’s got to make changes in the rematch. He will want to go straight back into that rematch.”
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) September 25, 2021
Usyk, of Ukraine, had high energy from the start. Usyk controlled the fight in the early rounds, but Joshua began to become more comfortable in the fourth round.
The crowd roared again for their hometown fighter in Round 6 when Joshua landed a vicious right hand and right hook.
In the seventh round, Usyk began to slow down, but he continued to answer back to Joshua’s hits. Later in the round, Usyk forced Joshua to stumble, helping the Ukrainian get back into tempo.
Joshua looked to be the favorite again in Round 9 as he got his rival near the ropes.
The battle got bloody as Joshua’s nose began bleeding and his eye began swelling in the 10th round. The cut under Usyk’s right eye also began bleeding again.
It seemed to be a close contest towards the final rounds, and fans said Joshua needed a knockout to win. Usyk didn’t give the boxing ace a chance as he unleashed a barrage of punches, leaving Joshua wobbly and forcing him onto the ropes.
The crowd roared, waiting for a final punch, but Usyk watched Joshua lean on the ropes, tired, and Joshua smiled before walking to his corner after the final bell.
Usyk began to cry as they declared him the new winner. Joshua left the ring after it was announced.
Here’s our live coverage of the fight.
Joshua and Usyk feeling each other out, but Usyk landed a straight left to the face towards the end of the 1st. 🤭 Good energy so far. #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk continues bouncing and lands inside shots to the face. Joshua responds with right body shot to Usyk. Crowd making some noise #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk unloaded on Joshua, making the boxing star a little wobbly 😅 #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
A punch from Usyk made Joshua stumble early in the 4th. Joshua seems to feel more comfortable, getting more mobile. Usyk has a cut under his right eye but continues to move #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Big hands from Joshua in the 5th but Usyk answered back with a big shot of his own. Joshua slowly figuring out the pace #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Crowd starts roaring again as Joshua lands vicious right hand and right hook in the 6th #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk sent Joshua stumbling with a hard right hand 😬 Usyk looking more confident in 7th #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk and Joshua very active that round. These heavyweights continue moving around the ring 👀 #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk not moving as much as earlier but still continues to answer back to Joshua #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
This battle is getting bloody. Joshua’s eye is swelling and Usyk’s cut is bleeding again. The two continue trading shots #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk executing good head movement and and was able to force Joshua near the corner. Entering the 12th! #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021
Usyk dethrones Joshua in his home by unanimous decision. Usyk breaks into tears with the upset win. What a fight. #JoshuaUsyk
— FIGHT SPORTS (@FIGHTSPORTS) September 25, 2021