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HomeNewsAnthony Joshua loses world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua loses world heavyweight titles to Oleksandr Usyk

Oleksandr Usyk is the new heavyweight world champion after securing victory over Anthony Joshua in London.

Having conquered the cruiserweight division, the undefeated Ukrainian has now taken Joshua’s IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles after a sublime performance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Usyk earned the win after shutting out the Briton with a tactical masterclass, demonstrating why he is regarded as one of the best-pound-for-pound fighters in boxing.

The win came via a clean sweep of the judges’ scorecards, 117-112, 116-112, 115-113 in the favour of the new champion.

It is the second defeat of Joshua’s professional career after his shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.

A rematch clause will give him the chance to reclaim the world titles – but his defeat will further delay hopes of a unification showdown between Joshua and WBC champion Tyson Fury.

It had been hoped the all-British clash could take place next year after talks spectacularly collapsed this summer.

Usyk’s victory however rocks the heavyweight division and will surely shelve those plans for the foreseeable future.

Usyk started the contest superbly, working intelligent angles to catch Joshua upstairs and to the body as the champion struggled to deal with his opponent’s speed.

In the third, a thunderous left from the Ukrainian hurt Joshua and while he responded with a shot of his own, he walked back to his corner looking shaken.

Manoeuvring around the Briton with wonderful footwork, Usyk looked at home and in control, making Joshua miss as he controlled the distance.

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Roared on the crowd, Joshua found his range with a slick one-two towards the end of the fourth but Usyk would again find his target with body shots in the fifth, outboxing the champion and taking a commanding lead on the score cards.

Joshua responded with power shots at the end of the fifth and began to utilise his huge reach advantage in the sixth, finding his jab to start keeping the challenger at distance.

A stinging right bloodied the nose of Usyk but the challenger’s response was typically polished, with a thunderous right sent Joshua backpaddling in the seventh, catching him with a looping left that knocked him off balance.

Usyk’s intensity and speed showed no signs of slowing as they reached the eighth round.

By the end of the 10th, the war wounds were evident on both, Usyk cut on his forehead and Joshua’s left eye swelling quickly.

The busier and more accurate work came from the Ukranian in the 11th with the sense that Joshua needed a huge finish to keep the titles in the UK.

But the explosive finish came from the challenger, who brutalised the soon-to-be dethroned champion with a flurry of heavy shots in the closing minute.

Joshua stood his ground to hear the final bell, but left the ring without his titles.

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