Oleksandr Usyk

For weeks there have been stories about the “new” Anthony Joshua. About his new trainer, or trainers, with Robert Garcia and Angel Fernandez taking the ...

There’s no shame in losing to Usyk, who has a legitimate case to be called the No. He allowed the fight to take place largely in the middle of the ring (like the first fight), allowed Usyk to largely dictate the pace (ditto) and wound up on the wrong end of a decision. Fury-Usyk isn’t as big as Fury-Joshua, but an undisputed heavyweight championship fight is a big deal anywhere, in the UK or abroad. After the fight, Usyk said he would fight Fury or he wouldn’t fight again. Usyk has three pieces of the heavyweight title. Joshua was more committed to the body—AJ and his team believed Usyk was vulnerable there—but beyond the ninth round he didn’t deliver a sustained attack.

Oleksandr Usyk secures a second consecutive victory over Anthony Joshua to defend the unified WBO, WBA and IBF titles; AJ rages at the conclusion of the ...

He finally drove Usyk into the ropes and Joshua kept up the pressure, hammering at the Ukrainian with heavy hooks. He closed the fight like a champion, not letting up in the 12th round. In the eighth round, Joshua slammed a heartening left hook into the body. Joshua though got on the front foot, sending his right hook to the body and leaning on when the Ukrainian stepped in close. Usyk came back at him, probing at Joshua with a combination of punches. The challenger now, Joshua continued to press Usyk, much more willing to engage than in their first fight. Usyk looked to dissuade him, landing a countering left as Joshua came in. He was fighting to become a three-time heavyweight champion and knew his legacy depended on victory tonight. Joshua triggered an immediate rematch, determined to restore his place as a top-tier heavyweight. Formerly an undisputed champion down at cruiserweight, Usyk proved himself one of the best fighters pound-for-pound in the world today. Usyk holds three of the four major heavyweight belts. - The fight was closely contested through the first six rounds.

Oleksandr Usyk punches Anthony Joshua during their World Heavyweight Championship fight during the Rage on the Red Sea Heavyweight Title Fight in Jeddah.

Fighter for life," Joshua said. "I'm a fighter for life. "I tried a different style ...

Oleksandr Usyk kissed the blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine and looked to the Saudi Arabian sky as he waited to discover if he had honored his war-torn ...

intelligence agencies believe he ordered the beheading and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist [Jamal Khashoggi](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/new-public-report-blame-saudi-crown-prince-2018-killing-jamal-n1258800). [Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi-dissidents-betrayed-biden-trip-defends-planned-visit-rcna37717) attending the fight. Two judges gave it to Usyk, one 115-113 and the other 116-112. “Many generations are going to watch this fight, especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard. For Usyk to be champion, under those circumstances, please raise your hands.” I am sure Tyson Fury wants to fight me. “We help each other. “Thank you very, very much.” [Volodymyr Zelenskyy](https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/zelenskyy-meets-with-erdogan-u-n-secretary-general-over-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-power-plant-grain-exports-146472517832) in his nightly video address to the nation. “We stick together,” the president said. [Oleksandr Usyk ](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-invasion-boxing-champions-usyk-lomachenko-enlist-rcna18773)kissed the blue-and-yellow flag of [Ukraine](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/russia-ukraine-news) and looked to the Saudi Arabian sky as he waited to discover if he had honored his war-torn country by retaining his world heavyweight titles. [Kyiv](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-visit-kyiv-wartime-revival-zelenskyy-meeting-rcna25812) with an automatic rifle and defending Ukraine from the invading Russians.

Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after beating Britain's Anthony Joshua to retain his world heavyweight title at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, ...

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The Gypsy King teased a possible return while denouncing both fighters following their bout in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

And if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.” As fans and pundits continue to speculate on Fury’s in-ring future, Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) said Saturday that he believes the sport hasn’t seen the last of his fellow undefeated heavyweight champ. “I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet,” Usyk said. “To be honest with you guys, after watching that, the both of them was s----,” Fury exclaimed. “It was probably the [worst] heavyweight title fight I have ever seen. While some may consider Fury’s mic drop as nothing more than well-timed posturing, The Gypsy King’s short-lived comeback attempt earlier this month suggests he may not be truly ready to hang up his gloves.

After Oleksandr Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua on Saturday to retain the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles, Fury quickly proved why his retirement talk was ...

Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. "After watching that, the both of them was shite," Fury said. Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell for the best analysis and in-depth news, including instant analysis of Usyk vs.

Oleksandr Usyk has urged Tyson Fury to come out of retirement and fight him for the undisputed world heavyweight title.

He had the chance to fight him and chose not to. “I wanted to win for Great Britain because I know they want me to fight Tyson Fury,” Joshua said. You wanted to fight the elite. You never had the easy fights because you wanted to complete a résumé. “I saw in the eighth round, I saw in AJ’s eyes that he was feeling victorious already. “He’s too good and there’s no shame in it,” he said. Turning to Joshua, he said: “You’ve had to step up to carry the sport in our country. “It was one of the worst heavyweight title fights I have ever seen,” he said. In the later press conference, Usyk dedicated his victory to the people of Ukraine. “I am convinced he wants to fight me. His promoter, Frank Warren, said this month that Fury was showing signs of “itchy feet” and was keen to get back into the ring. I want to fight him.

Where do we go from here in the heavyweight division? All eyes shift once again to Tyson Fury.

The 34-year-old Englishman is able to switch stances seamlessly and his jab is one of the best in boxing. Fury bullied Wilder in his last two fights, leaning on him in the clinch and pushing him to the ropes, forcing his opponent to contend with all 270 pounds of him. Sure, Joshua is a big man at 6-feet-6, 245 pounds, but Fury is 6-foot-9, 270-plus pounds and possesses the sort of jab and footwork that separates him from his countryman, Joshua and most other fighters in the sport. Fury's promoter, Bob Arum, told ESPN's Mark Kriegel on Saturday that Usyk-Fury "won't be a hard fight to make," and that the purse split should be 50-50. But this fight makes far too much sense -- and dollars -- to fall by the wayside. Inside the ring, Usyk has proven to be just as courageous. He rallied with an even more dominant Round 10, and also displayed the punch resistance necessary to withstand the most dangerous shots. Usyk's use of angles, movement and an educated jab have made him a puzzle no opponent has been able to solve. "I will annihilate both of them on the same night," he said, referring to Usyk and Joshua. And if I'm not fighting Tyson Fury, I'm not fighting at all." While Joshua prepared for the rematch against Usyk, Fury defeated Dillian Whyte in April and immediately announced his retirement. That final strap, of course, is held by Tyson Fury, whose on-again, off-again retirement claims appear to be a rite of passage for top fighters.