Oleksandr Usyk has retained the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles with a 12-round split decision over Anthony Joshua.
Ringside judges Victor Fesechko (116-112) and Steve Gray (115-113) scored it for Usyk, while Glenn Feldman (115-113) had it for Joshua.
“What performance from Oleksandr Usyk,” says Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter. “The ninth round I ran over. I thought we had it. The 10th round was one of the best rounds I’ve seen to turn a fight – not back around, because it was very close at that point – But what Usyk did in the 10th, the 11th and the 12th was incredible. And that was the difference tonight because AJ didn’t start fighting fast enough, but he fought a much better fight [than last September]. He hurt Usyk badly the ninth. And I felt like going to come on strong but Usyk came out like a train. And as I said, that 10th round was the moment he decided to regain the fight. It was an incredible performance. He’s just too good. You know, he is too good and there’s no shame in it.”
He continues: “You saw the reaction for AJ and that was from a human. He wanted to win so badly with so much pressure on his shoulders. And I think he just exploded because he lost and he was devastated and he’s given everything to try and win this fight. He couldn’t win the fight. He’s a competitor. He is a winner, but this man’s too good. That 10th round, the 11th round, the 12th round was just why this guy’s pound-for-pound number one.”
Hearn is then asked whether he believes Usyk could beat Tyson Fury.
“They’re both tremendous fighters,” Hearn says. “I’m not sure anyone can beat Oleksandr Usyk. You know, Tyson Fury is a clever man. He had the chance to fight him. He chose not to. Will he come out of retirement? Good luck to both of them. But you know, this man is an incredible fighter. AJ gave you everything. He had a great training camp. He was desperate, desperate to win this fight tonight, as you saw, but he wasn’t good enough on the night and that’s sport. That’s high-level boxing. He lost 115-113. He lost a split decision to the pound-for-pound number one. There’s no disgrace in that. But he’s not pound-for-pound number one. He’s got to go away if he wants to, come back, rebuild, get the frustration out. ‘Cause you saw part of it there. And be happy. That’s the most important one.”
*Usyk: ‘If I’m not fighting Tyson Fury [next], I’m not fighting at all’
“This is already history,” Usyk says through a translator. “Many generations are going watch this fight, especially the [10th] round, when someone tried to beat me hard, but I standed it and turned it in a different way. Thanks, God.”
Usyk is asked whether he though he won the fight in light of the protestations from Joshua’s corner. “Yes, of course,” he says.
The champion is then asked about the one major heavyweight title that’s not in his possession: the WBC belt held by Tyson Fury, who says he’s retired from boxing for good.
“I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet,” Usyk says. “I’m sure. I’m convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. And if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.”
Does he believe he will become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world?
“Only God knows whether I will or not,” he says. “But all these gentlemen here around me, my team, they’re going to help me.”
“I want thank everyone who prayed for me,” Usyk says through a translator. “I want to thank God for the help that he gave me today because he did give me a lot today. My Lord is Jesus Christ.”
Then Usyk speaks to the crowd in English: “Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Inshallah!”
He continues, through a translator: “I devote this victory to my country, to my family, to my team, to the whole, to all people, the militaries who are defending the country. Thank you very, very much.”
An incredibly strange moment in the immediate aftermath. Anthony Joshua has wrestled the microphone and gone on a four-minute speech giving tribute to Usyk. Even Rocky Marciano caught a stray.
If you knew my story, you would understand the passion. I ain’t no fucking amateur boxer from five years old, that was an elite prospect from my youth, bro. I was going to jail. … I got bail and I started training my ass off, because if I got [inaudible], I wanted to be able to fight. … My cousin Bengo – where’s he at, G-14 raise your hand! – I’m stealing this Usyk, I’m sorry. But it’s because of the fucking passion we put into this shit, man. Guys, I’m telling you, this guy to beat me tonight – maybe I could have done better – but it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in. So please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion in the world.
Motherfucker, I’m not a 12-round fighter. Look at me. I’m the new breed of heavyweight. All them heavyweights. Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey. “Oh, you don’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano!” ‘Cause I ain’t fucking 14 stone! That’s why! I’m 18 stone and I’m heavy. It’s hard work. This guy here is a phenomenal talent. We’re gonna cheer for him three times. Well, how many belts you got now bro? Hip-hip [hooray]! Hip-hip [hooray]! Hip-hip [hooray]! Hip-hip [hooray]! Hip-hip [hooray]! Hip-hip [hooray]! Hip-hip [hooray]!
As I said, I was studying Ukraine and all the champions have come from your amazing country – I ain’t never been there – but at the same time what’s happening there is … I don’t know what’s happening, but it’s not nice. I’ve seen it with Lomachenko in his second fight against Orlando. There was unrest in Ukraine, right or wrong. There was issues in Ukraine in your second fight, there was civil war. Vitali Klitschko when he faced Danny Williams, civil unrest. Usyk is the champion, please raise your hand! Under those circumstances, he managed to become champion! Champ, champ! Champ, champ! Champ, champ!
Almost debilitating cringe, all things told. This should have been Usyk’s moment. -theguadian.com
