ANTHONY JOSHUA was beaten in his heavyweight title rematch with Oleksandr Usyk last night in Saudi Arabia.
AJ was defeated by split decision, largely giving a better performance than he did in the first fight, but the Ukrainian was much too skilled for the Watford man.
After the fight, Joshua threw down the title belts after the result was read out, and sparked concussion fears with a rambling speech in the ring.
And the night got even more emotional for Joshua, who broke down in tears at the post-fight news conference in Jeddah.
Usyk, meanwhile, called out Tyson Fury, who in turn has responded by telling those in charge of making the fight to get their chequebooks out.
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- Jake Lambourne
Usyk on Tyson Fury's claims
Oleksandr Usyk has hit back after Tyson Fury claimed he could beat the Ukrainian and Anthony Joshua in the same night.
Fury mocked his heavyweight rivals following Usyk's rematch win on points against AJ in Saudi Arabia.
Fury said: "After watching that, the both of them were s***e. It was one of the worst heavyweight title fights I have ever seen.
"It was bulls***. Come on! I'd beat annihilate both of them on the same night. F***ing s***e.
"Get your f***ing chequebook out because the Gypsy King is here to stay, forever."
Usyk, who wants to face Fury in an undisputed decider, had a blunt response.
He quipped: "That's what he's dreaming every day. I'm gonna beat his ass."
- Jake Lambourne
Syk feeling for AJ
Anthony Joshua was left visibly fuming after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk – despite Vasiliy Lomachenko's best efforts to console him.
Lomachenko watched ringside in Saudi Arabia as his close friend Usyk beat AJ for a second time.
And the double Olympic and ex-unified champion then appeared to congratulate Joshua on his performance.
But the beaten and distraught British star was having none of it.
Joshua said: "F*** that s***, good boxing has to win. F*** that s***."
AJ was then seen irate in the corner as members of his team tried to calm him down.
- Alex Cole
AJ won't retire, says Hearn
Hearn was quick to shut down any talk of retirement following Anthony Joshua's defeat to Usyk, one of the finest boxers in the business.
He said: “People talked in the build-up about him retiring.
“When you lose a split decision to the pound-for-pound number one, why would you contemplate retirement?
"It’s about passion. It’s about if you still want it. You could see how much he wanted it by his post-fight interview.”
- Alex Cole
'Massive fight' with Whyte or Wilder next for AJ, says Hearn
AJ could return in a massive fight by December following defeat to Oleksandr Usyk again.
The British superstar, for the second time in the space of a year, was beaten on points by the pound-for-pound No1.
It leaves AJ out of the heavyweight title picture but still in line to face some of the biggest names in the division.
Promoter Eddie Hearn told talkSPORT: “I’d like to see him back out. Maybe even in late December.
“There’s massive fights for him. Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder.
“There’s so many fights for him in the top [ten]. There’s even some Brits for him that are coming through in a couple of fights as well.”
- Alex Cole
‘A crack in the armour’, says AJ
AJ added: “it comes at a cost, a big cost. It’ll never break me, but it takes real strength for it not to break me. And tonight, there’s a little crack in the armour when I took a loss.
“And I think you just saw me just upset. And with the speech, I was just speaking about where I come from. I was on the roads, really.
“And I made a transition to boxing that really changed my life and brought me closer to God and brought me closer to meeting so many people.
“And I just kind of laid it all on the line with my speech. But let’s not forget the champ Oleksandr Usyk. He put on a phenomenal performance as well. So credit to him.
“I can’t remember what I said in the ring because it was just so passionate. But I just want to say thank you to him for taking part in a great historical fight as well. It takes two to tango. I was just so upset.”
- Alex Cole
More on AJ post-fight press conference
Joshua said: “When you’re trying to do things from the heart and everyone is just not understanding. It was just from the heart. I was mad at myself. Not anyone else just myself.
“So I thought, I’ve got to get out of here because I’m mad. Like anyone, when you’re angry, you might do stupid things.
“I was mad and then I realised, ‘Oh s***, this is sport. Let me do the right thing and come back.’
“I just spoke from my heart. It’s been so tough. You see AJ holding it together, yeah, and I’m a hustler so I try put things together. Try work hard and put things together and make sure my team’s good.
- Alex Cole
AJ emotional in post-fight press conference
Anthony Joshua broke down in tears in his post-match press conference as he discussed his meltdown following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua suffered a second successive defeat to Usyk via split decision at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia last night.
After the result was announced, AJ threw the Ukrainian star’s belts out of the ring before appearing to storm off.
The Brit then decided to return to the squared circle to hijack the mic and deliver a bizarre speech to the crowd.
The 32-year-old got emotional in his press conference as he explained this was “from the heart” and came as a result of him being “mad” at himself.
- Alex Cole
Joshua to return before end of year
AJ has revealed he wants to return to the ring in November or December just hours after suffering a devastating second loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Brit was more competitive in his rematch with Usyk for the heavyweight titles.
Joshua has answered those questions by vowing to return before the end of 2022.
Speaking after the loss, he said: "I will become three-time world heavyweight champion."
AJ added: "About who I fight. Come one and come all I will fight anybody."
- Alex Cole
AJ lucky to be held back from my team, says Usyk
Anthony Joshua was lucky not to get beaten up by Oleksandr Usyk's team as "most of them" are "horrible street fighters", says the heavyweight champion.
The 32-year-old Brit lost his cool after being defeated by Usyk for a second time.
And Joshua's behaviour hasn't gone down well with Usyk.
The Ukrainian, 35, says he still respects AJ – but says he was "bullying some of my team-mates".
Usyk said: "I feel nothing but respect to AJ. I saw him a bit emotional and like bullying some of my team-mates.
"That would be a bare-knuckle fight that I don't recommend him to do because most of them are horrible street fighters."
- Alex Cole
More on Fury vs Usyk
Fury does have 32 victories, but like Usyk he is also unbeaten, with the only blemish on his record a controversial draw against Deontay Wilder.
As for knockouts, Fury is the KO king with 23 knockouts to Usyk’s 13.
The Morecambe man also has a huge height advantage, standing at 6ft 9in to Usyk’s 6ft 3in.
It means Fury has a reach advantage too, with his arms measuring in at 85in while Usyk has a 78in reach.
The two men do have different stances, with Fury an orthodox fighter and Usyk boxing as a southpaw.
And a battle between the pair would surely be one for the ages.
Boxing fans will now wait with bated breath to see if Fury truly does come out of retirement.
- Alex Cole
Tale of the Tape – Fury vs Usyk
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk could finally be set to clash following the Ukrainian’s second win over Anthony Joshua last night.
Taking hold of the microphone following AJ’s bizarre outburst, Usyk declared the only boxer in the world he is willing to fight is Fury.
The Gypsy King was keeping close tabs on last night’s brilliant action.
And he responded by insisting he would happily knock out another Ukrainian, having already dethroned the legendary Wladimir Klitschko.
The world could now be set to finally witness two heavyweight champions fighting to unify the division.
How do they compare?
- Alex Cole
Punch stats – a look at the details
In terms of individual rounds, Usyk outlanded Joshua in nine of the 12.
AJ managed to land more punches in the first two rounds – but his only victory after that came in the ninth when his onslaught fell short of securing a stoppage win.
Usyk ended with a total punches landed of 170 compared with Joshua’s 124.
But Joshua actually did have a marginally higher percentage of punches landed – 25 per cent to Usyk’s 24.
However, it was ultimately futile as Usyk had his hand raised despite the judges scorecards being closer than many expected.
And the beating Usyk inflicted on Joshua in the final nine minutes will go down in history as one of the great heavyweight performances in the key, championship rounds.
- Alex Cole
Won and lost in the final three rounds
It was the champion’s remarkable final three rounds which saw him clinch the win.
After a breathtaking ninth round saw Joshua rock Usyk and land 28 punches to the Ukrainian’s nine, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion came out for the 10th and dismantled all hope of a British victory.
Usyk landed 39 punches in the 10th round – the highest number any fighter has ever landed on Joshua over three minutes.
And he then went on to land a further 23 in the 11th and 17 in the final round.
That totals 79 punches landed in the final three rounds – a spell which ultimately took the fight away from Joshua – with AJ landing just 29 over the same period.
- Alex Cole
Usyk lands title defence
AJ suffered another defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The Brit, 32, was outboxed by the magical Ukrainian as Usyk claimed a split decision victory – 113-115, 115-113 and 116-112.
- Alex Cole
Fury here to stay?
Tyson Fury hinted he WILL return to the ring to fight Oleksandr Usyk… the day after his own retirement party.
The Gypsy King watched with family and friends at another bash in Menorca as the Ukrainian defended his heavyweight titles against Anthony Joshua in a split decision thriller.
Fury – who turned 34 last week – had the day before posted snaps from a party at his Morecambe home, complete with birthday balloons and "Happy Retirement" signs.
However, it did not take for long for his latest comeback hint, as Fury added: "Get your f***ing chequebook out because the Gypsy King is here to stay, forever."
Get your f***ing chequebook out because the Gypsy King is here to stay, forever.
Tyson Fury
- Alex Cole
Fury unimpressed by Usyk and AJ
Fury was far from impressed last night, claiming he could beat the BOTH in one night.
Fury said on Instagram: "After watching that, the both of them were s***e. It was one of the worst heavyweight title fights I have ever seen.
"It was bulls***. Come on!
“I'd beat annihilate both of them on the same night. F***ing s***e."
- Alex Cole
Usyk calls out Fury
Oleksandr Usyk wants to face Tyson Fury after retaining his heavyweight world titles against Anthony Joshua.
The Ukrainian, 35, beat AJ once again via split decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Usyk called out Fury for a bout and hinted he would quit if he does not get to face the Brit.
He said: "I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet. 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."
I want to fight him and if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.
Oleksandr Usyk
- Alex Cole
AJ concussion could be to blame for post-fight rant
Fans and pundits feared Anthony Joshua suffered a concussion in his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The former unified heavyweight champion flew into a fit of rage after suffering a second successive points defeat to the slick southpaw in their Saudi rematch.
He did, however, repeatedly praise Usyk for his display in their rematch in his x-rated post-fight interview.
Joshua’s behaviour left many stunned, including training partner Frazer Clarke.
The Olympian said: “Maybe he was concussed. I would have taken a dog to take that microphone off him.’
“I apologise for the team, someone from the team should have saved him. Anthony’s a good person, it was out of character.
“Someone should have jumped in and stopped him. It was only words at the wrong time.”
Credit: Reuters - Alex Cole
Furious AJ
This was the moment Anthony Joshua lost his rag after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
- Alex Cole
'A crack in the armour', says AJ
AJ added: “it comes at a cost, a big cost. It'll never break me, but it takes real strength for it not to break me. And tonight, there's a little crack in the armour when I took a loss.
“And I think you just saw me just upset. And with the speech, I was just speaking about where I come from. I was on the roads, really.
“And I made a transition to boxing that really changed my life and brought me closer to God and brought me closer to meeting so many people.
“And I just kind of laid it all on the line with my speech. But let's not forget the champ Oleksandr Usyk. He put on a phenomenal performance as well. So credit to him.
“I can't remember what I said in the ring because it was just so passionate. But I just want to say thank you to him for taking part in a great historical fight as well. It takes two to tango. I was just so upset."
- Alex Cole
More on AJ post-fight press conference
Joshua said: “When you're trying to do things from the heart and everyone is just not understanding. It was just from the heart. I was mad at myself. Not anyone else just myself.
“So I thought, I've got to get out of here because I'm mad. Like anyone, when you're angry, you might do stupid things.
"I was mad and then I realised, 'Oh s***, this is sport. Let me do the right thing and come back.'
“I just spoke from my heart. It's been so tough. You see AJ holding it together, yeah, and I'm a hustler so I try put things together. Try work hard and put things together and make sure my team's good.
- Alex Cole
AJ emotional in post-fight press conference
Anthony Joshua broke down in tears in his post-match press conference as he discussed his meltdown following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua suffered a second successive defeat to Usyk via split decision at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Saudi Arabia last night.
After the result was announced, AJ threw the Ukrainian star's belts out of the ring before appearing to storm off.
The Brit then decided to return to the squared circle to hijack the mic and deliver a bizarre speech to the crowd.
The 32-year-old got emotional in his press conference as he explained this was "from the heart" and came as a result of him being "mad" at himself.
- Alex Cole
Won and lost in the final three rounds
It was the champion's remarkable final three rounds which saw him clinch the win.
After a breathtaking ninth round saw Joshua rock Usyk and land 28 punches to the Ukrainian's nine, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion came out for the 10th and dismantled all hope of a British victory.
Usyk landed 39 punches in the 10th round – the highest number any fighter has ever landed on Joshua over three minutes.
And he then went on to land a further 23 in the 11th and 17 in the final round.
That totals 79 punches landed in the final three rounds – a spell which ultimately took the fight away from Joshua – with AJ landing just 29 over the same period.
- Alex Cole
Usyk lands first defence of titles
AJ suffered another defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
The Brit, 32, was outboxed by the magical Ukrainian as Usyk claimed a split decision victory – 113-115, 115-113 and 116-112.
- Chisanga Malata
Tears of joy
Oleksandr Usyk was overcome with emotion after registering his first defence of his heavyweight titles.
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