Anthony Joshua’s reign as IBF, WBA and WBO champion was ended in a sensational fight which Usyk took by a unanimous decision after a scintillating performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Oleksandr Usyk broke the hearts of British and Nigerian boxing fans after the three judges scored the bout which lasted for 10 rounds 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 to declare the Ukrainian the champion as Joshua suffered his second career defeat.
Anthony Joshua was badly hurt in the third round and then forced to cling on in the closing seconds of a fight which will live long in the memory.
Though Joshua was brave and gutsy, and caused damage on his challenger’s face, the night belonged to Usyk who became only the third boxer (after Evander Holyfield and David Haye) to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
He was the undisputed cruiserweight champion and is now only missing the WBC belt, owned by Fury, to match that feat at heavyweight.
