The fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday was a rematch of the London fight in September, which Usyk won by unanimous decision to take the belts from Joshua, but fought with much more intensity and emotion. The pressure was on both men more than ever, with Usyk this time representing a country fighting for its existence after Russia invaded in February, while Joshua was fighting for his future in boxing. Usyk appeared comfortably in front as the final bell rang at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena. But the American judge scored the fight 115-113 for Joshua, with the British and Ukrainian judges giving Usyk 115-113 and 116-112 decisions. Oleksandr Usyk in a fight against Anthony Joshua [Andrew Couldridge/ Action Images via Reuters] Upon hearing the winning words, “and still,” an emotional Usyk raised his left hand and pulled the Ukrainian flag over his face. “I dedicate this victory to my country, to my family, to my team, to all the military who defend this country,” the 35-year-old said through a translator. “Thank you very much.” Saturday’s win took Usyk’s professional record 20-fight unbeaten run while Joshua, 32, suffered the third defeat of his career. Joshua, who was holding up the Ukrainian flag alongside Usyk as they awaited the decision in what appeared to be an admission of defeat, then had an uncharacteristic meltdown after a fight dubbed “Rage at the Red Sea”. He took two of the belts, dropped them as he left the ring and headed for the dressing room before turning and retreating between the ropes to take the microphone and address the crowd. “Usyk is a hell of a fighter. That’s just a feeling,” he said. “For this guy to beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better, but it shows the level of hard work he must have put in, so please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world. “I was studying Ukraine and all the champions from your amazing country. I’ve never been there. What’s going on there, I don’t know, but it’s not nice … under these conditions he managed to become a champion.” Anthony Joshua in a match against Oleksandr Usyk [Andrew Couldridge/ Action Images via Reuters] After a grueling five-month training camp, Usyk entered the arena wearing a blue and yellow top emblazoned with the words “Colors of Freedom” and backed by words of encouragement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly video address to the nation. “We are united,” the president said. “We help each other. We restore what was destroyed. We fight for all our people. And we cheer for those who represent Ukraine, today — certainly for Usyk, our guy!” The opening round was testing, with Joshua’s angle prompting him to adjust his pace, and the fight continued with Usyk constantly moving and using his jab and body shots to good effect. The 9th round picked up the pace dramatically, with Joshua enjoying his best round before Usyk came back strongly in the 10th. Needing a knockout and running out of time, the taller and heavier Joshua was unable to land the powerful punches against a nimble and elusive opponent who fought back hard. At the final bell the two embraced, with the Ukrainian sinking to his knees. Usyk said the fight was historic. “Many generations are going to watch this fight, especially the round where someone tried to beat me hard. But I stood up and turned it around in a different way,” he said. Usyk also won the Ring Magazine belt with the win. There is only one heavyweight title that Usyk does not hold – the WBC title that is to be vacated by Tyson Fury, who says he has retired. When asked about Fury, Usyk said: “I’m sure Tyson Fury hasn’t retired yet. I’m sure Tyson Fury wants to fight me. If I don’t fight Tyson Fury, I don’t fight at all.”
