BREAKING: Usyk defeats Joshua, retains heavyweight titles

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By Idowu Abdullahi and Peter Akinbo

August 21, 2022

Ukrainian Aleksander Usyk defeated British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua by split decision on Sunday to win the heavyweight title rematch.

Usyk lands more solid shots on Joshua in the final round and the former champion tries to counter with his own shots.

Usyk retained the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO titles on a split decision.

The first judge had 115-113 in favor of Joshua while the second 115-113 against Usyk and the third 116-112 against Usyk.

Usyk, 35, beat the defending champion in London last year. The Ukrainian win could set up a potential unification bout with Britain's Tyson Fury.

Speaking to the crowd after the fight, Joshua said he had elite hope among the youngsters.

“If you knew my story, you would understand my passion. I am not a five-year-old amateur boxer who was an elite youth prospect. I started training, I wanted to be able to fight.

"I'm stealing this Usyk, I'm sorry, but it's because of the passion we put into it. That guy who beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better, but it shows the level of hard work I put in, so please applaud him as the heavyweight champion of the world.

He added, "I'm not a 12 round fighter, look at me, I'm a new breed of heavyweight, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey, 'you don't throw combinations like Rocky Marciano ' , I'm 18 stone, I'm heavy, it's hard work. This guy has phenomenal talent, we're going to cheer him on three times."