Comments Thread For: Oleksandr Usyk Repeats, Wins Split Decision Over Anthony Joshua To Retain Titles

[boxingfan4ever]

It was a very good fight. Joshua lately didn't convince me, but today he looked like a champion. His problem was that he met a gifted man in Usyk. After the ninth round, I began to think that Joshua could win. But where the great champions shine are in the last 3 rounds. What kind of recovery from Usyk! In the tenth Usyk almost finished Joshua! Joshua showed his quality by resisting and trying in rounds 11 and 12. But that Ukrainian really is a class apart! Congratulations to both for that great fight. Usyk is my favorite, he is already a great in history. Against a giant like Fury it is another matter. But who knows? It will be a great fight!

[sledgehammer17]

I was wrong they didn't rob usyk, but they tried to, with Glen Feldmans card, f*****g disgraceful, usyk won easy. And BJ you totally embarrassed yourself and the sport with all that s***e you said at the end, how dare you try to spoil usyk moment of glory just to try and make it about you and keep yourself relevant, you f*****g mug, totally discusting, your mask slipped there didn't it, now the public see the real femi, throwing usyk belts out of the ring, why didn't any of the officials stop this behavior, out of order, he needs to be fined and suspended for that, I have never seen such a sore loser in 40 year I've been around boxing. Total embarrassing d**k head. Bow your head in shame and to a great champion like usyk.

[P to the J]

AJ said "you're not strong, how did you beat me" to Usyk and after that went full rant sounding like he suffered brain damage?

The context to that comment I believe is that Usyk was trying to pacify the man telling him he was a strong fighter, and I got the impression AJ was saying strength means nothing cos I heard him say “it’s skills that matter”

Absolutely off his rocker there, no doubt, but I’ve met a million guys who can get aggro like him

[661averagejoe]

Man this fight took down the site huh?

[PRINCEKOOL]

Anthony Joshua has not really been the same fighter since his loss to Ruiz Junior. Tonight, I don't think he lost due to lack of effort 'I could clearly see that he was trying'.

Joshua put in a good effort tonight, went the distance again with Usyk 'And pushed him at times to a certain extent'.

The fight was made more difficult, due to Joshua's inability to fight a good big man styled fight.

His Jab was wow extremely passive, then it disappeared as the rounds went on. Joshua seems to have zero idea how to tie a fighter up, wrestle fighters on the inside and rough them about 'And his inside game is not really world class'.

Usyk is a great fighter, great talent. But there is no way he would out jab Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Kiltschko, or even Tyson Fury. Fundamentally for all Super Heavyweights, when they are up against fighters with the dimension of Usyk 'Everything has to start with a solid jab'.

If Wilder can get himself back in great condition, due to his near psychopathic aggression 'Combined with his power, and really good Jab'.

I can envision Wilder really pushing Usyk, I would back a peak Deontay Wilder to beat Usyk. But of course right about now, nobody really knows what type of condition Wilder is in.

Joshua let out plenty of pent up frustration at the end of that fight. I believe members of his team, should of held him back. He should of just congratulated Usyk, and walked off outside of the ring. That is it now, Usyk is the champion 'Leave the ring and start the recovery for yourself'.

On the real, Joshua has been dealing with trauma. This is clear. The trauma from the Ruiz Junior loss, and maybe how people and society treated him during those times.

Johnny Nelson was right in some of the things he stated. Joshua throughout his entire career, has been a winner. He won the Olympic Gold Medal, and has been a two time Heavyweight Champion. If he is to continue fighting, I think his own integrity will only want to still compete against the best and be the best etc.

[kiaba360]

Well if the three L’s don’t kill his career, that god awful promo AJ just cut will.


what the **** was that???

I didn't listen to the post-fight stuff, but I've always found it surprising when fighters try to get eloquent after being in a fight. Exhausted, absorbed punishment...not the best time to give a long-winded speech.

Whatever was said, I hope AJ gets his head right. AJ and Wilder (to a lesser degree) were the reason I got invested in HW to begin with. It'd be nice if they can build themselves back up and then face each other. Wilder took his extended break, maybe AJ needs to take one now.

Usyk/Fury is the most logical match-up, but it's hard to predict what's going on in Fury's head.

[Toffee]

He didn’t though; he tried to hold centre, use footwork and head movement to stay move out of range of pre-emotive strikes, and then counter Usyk hard.

It worked for the first two rounds until Usyk figured him and upped the pace, which left Joshua as bewildered as every other fighter Usyk’s been in with.

What would you have him do? Run after this windmilling like everyone has been saying?

Getting the impression that people are gonna get in the ring with the Ukrainian and learn hard lessons, cos ppl are real hard outside the ring

I'm another who said Usyk decision. Usyk wasn't stopping Joshua.

By the same token, Joshua wasn't beating Usyk over 12... he needed to win in 8/9.

Joshua was a bit more aggressive, a bit more focused on hitting anything (ie less headhunting)... but his ego still had him come out and try to move like a middleweight. He didn't need that and he couldn't keep it up beyond 3 rounds. Do you know how tiring it is to bounce on bended legs when you weight 240?

Plenty will disagree with my card but I had it level after 4, 6 and 8 rounds. After 4 you could make a case that Joshua was having the better of the fight overall but his chance of winning had reduced. Pipping some early rounds doesn't mean schitt when you know he's already fading and is going to lose the majority going forward and certainly the last 3.

He still wasn't committing enough to his shots early on. He'd have been better putting everything into 8 rounds and then getting stopped in the 9th. I couldn't see any other way he could win.

In the end - the way that fight went was entirely predictable. Huge credit to Usyk, but Joshua was the one who needed to change the script. He needed to let his ego go and realise he couldn't box with the man and win if it went late.

[TheCell8]

Fury better not shit his pants and retire. It would be an irreparable mark on his legacy if he retired without fighting Usyk.

[Nige]

Man this fight took down the site huh?

Got flooded with Joshua and his fan boys tears hahahahaha

[jaded]

Joshua is a big o'le drama queen. He clearly lost the fight and the judges were being generous to him. He lost the fight and then lost his mind and dignity.