Anthony Joshua was convinced that Oleksandr Usyk had bested Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated undisputed heavyweight showdown on Saturday night.
In a gripping match held in Saudi Arabia, Usyk emerged victorious via split decision, thus adding the WBC heavyweight belt to the IBF, WBO, and WBA titles he had initially taken from Joshua in 2021.
Despite Fury leading on two of the judges’ scorecards after eight rounds, the fight took a dramatic turn in the ninth round. Usyk landed a massive overhand left that shook Fury, followed by a series of relentless punches that forced the Brit to take a standing count.
Although all three judges scored the final round in Fury’s favor, it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Usyk won with scores of 115-112 and 114-113 on two of the judges’ scorecards, ensuring his triumph.
Anthony Joshua Reacts to Oleksandr Usyk Beating Tyson Fury
Joshua, who watched the fight ringside alongside football star Cristiano Ronaldo, witnessed Usyk hand Fury the first loss of his professional career. It was a thrilling contest that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
When TNT Sports approached Joshua right after the final bell and asked for his opinion on the winner, he promptly responded, “Usyk.” The interviewer, taken aback, asked again, to which Joshua replied, “Huh, who do you think?”
In a post-fight interview with iFL TV, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, shed light on Joshua’s perspective: “He [Joshua] thought Usyk won,” Hearn said. “I asked him, ‘What do you think?’, and he said, ‘Usyk won it easy’. While I thought the fight was close, Joshua was confident in his view.”
Hearn shared his own thoughts on the bout, noting Fury’s strong start: “I thought Fury boxed fantastically well in the first six rounds and was on his way to either a stoppage or a points decision. But Usyk… just incredible. I can’t believe it.”
When asked if Usyk’s victory impacts Joshua’s future plans, Hearn clarified that it doesn’t change their goals. “Not really, this is their night tonight,” he said. “We want to regain the world heavyweight title, so whoever has got it has got it.”
Hearn also mentioned the potential rematch between Usyk and Fury, speculated to take place in October. “The rematch is a big fight. That looks like it’ll be set for October, if both guys take it. We have to work on our plans, whether that’s Wembley, we’ll see what happens on June 1.”
What’s Next?
Joshua is eyeing a fight with the winner of the upcoming June 1 bout between Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, positioning himself for another shot at the heavyweight title.
The fight between Usyk and Fury was a significant event in the boxing world, with Usyk proving his dominance once again. Joshua’s reaction and the subsequent comments from Eddie Hearn highlight the respect and recognition Usyk has earned in the sport. As the heavyweight division continues to heat up, fans can look forward to more exciting matchups and the possibility of Joshua reclaiming his titles.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
