Oleksandr Usyk defeats Anthony Joshua in dramatic rematch to retain heavyweight titles
Oleksandr Usyk defeats Anthony Joshua in dramatic rematch to retain heavyweight titles
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The 35-year-old Ukrainian proved unbeatable in the course of the 12-round contest, sustaining his steely nerve to dominate Joshua with a sequence of heavy blows. Joshua appeared to interrupt Usyk's momentum within the ninth spherical and landed a spell of punches on his opponent, earlier than retreating into defeat.
He was awarded a rating of 115-113 from one choose, however Usyk finally emerged the stronger contender and earned scores of 115-113 and 116-112 from two judges to retain his WBA (Tremendous), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles.
The 32-year-old Ali gained in a first-round knockout, enhancing her profession document to 7-0.
Feelings run excessive
The heavyweight title rematch was billed because the "Rage on the Pink Sea," a headline that definitely captured the temper of the evening.
"When you knew my story, you'd perceive the fervour," Joshua mentioned, including of Usyk: "I am telling you this man to beat me tonight, perhaps I might have performed higher, however it reveals the degrees of onerous work he will need to have put in so please give him a spherical of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world."
Earlier this 12 months the 35-year-old traveled again to his homeland and joined the territorial protection battalion in Kyiv to assist out within the battle efforts.
"That is already historical past," he added. "Many generations are going to observe this struggle, particularly the spherical when somebody tried to beat me onerous. However I (withstood) it and turned it otherwise."
"I am certain that Tyson Fury shouldn't be retired but. I am certain, I am satisfied he desires to struggle me. I need to struggle him," Usyk mentioned. "If I am not combating Tyson Fury, I am not combating in any respect."
'I used to be mad at myself'
Joshua broke down into tears throughout his post-match press convention, saying that he was "upset" by his efficiency on Saturday.
"It is actually, actually onerous for me to say I am happy with myself," he mentioned. "I am upset, actually, deep down in my coronary heart."
He additionally defined his emotional outburst after the match, including: "Once you attempt to do issues out of your coronary heart, not everybody goes to know. It was simply from the center. I knew I used to be mad at myself. Not at anybody, simply myself. I used to be like I acquired to get out right here as a result of I am mad.
"Once you're indignant you would possibly do silly issues, so I used to be mad. However then I spotted that is sport, let me do the best factor."
Forward of the rematch, fellow British boxers Carl Froch and Kell Brook mentioned that a second defeat to Usyk would spell the tip of Joshua's boxing profession.
Regardless of the rumors, the 32-year-old confirmed no indicators of hanging up his gloves simply but.
"I am a fighter for all times. The starvation by no means dies," he mentioned.
Muricas News's Ben Morse contributed reporting to this story.
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