{"id":51740,"date":"2022-08-21T07:36:39","date_gmt":"2022-08-21T07:36:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/usyk-beats-joshua-retains-heavyweight-boxing-belts-russia-ukraine-war-news\/"},"modified":"2022-08-21T07:36:39","modified_gmt":"2022-08-21T07:36:39","slug":"usyk-beats-joshua-retains-heavyweight-boxing-belts-russia-ukraine-war-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/usyk-beats-joshua-retains-heavyweight-boxing-belts-russia-ukraine-war-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Usyk beats Joshua, retains heavyweight boxing belts | Russia-Ukraine war News"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk has beaten Britain’s Anthony Joshua in a surprise split points decision and retained his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight boxing belts.<\/p>\n

The fight in Saudi Arabia’s Jedda on Sunday was a rematch of one in London in September, which Usyk won on an unanimous decision to take the belts from Joshua, but fought with much more intensity and emotion.<\/p>\n

The pressure was on both more than ever, with Usyk this time representing a country fighting for its existence after Russia’s invasion in February, while Joshua was battling for his boxing future.<\/p>\n

Usyk appeared comfortably ahead as the final bell rang at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena. But the American judge awarded the fight 115-113 to Joshua, with the British and Ukrainian judges deciding 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk.<\/p>\n

Oleksandr Usyk in action against Anthony Joshua [Andrew Couldridge\/ Action Images via Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When he heard the winning words, \u201cand still\u201d, an emotional Usyk raised his left arm and pulled the Ukrainian flag over his face.<\/p>\n

\u201cI devote this victory to my country, to my family, to my team, to all the military defending this country,\u201d the 35-year-old said through a translator. \u201cThank you very, very much.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saturday’s victory took Usyk’s professional record to 20 fights undefeated while Joshua, 32, ended the third defeat of his career.<\/p>\n

Joshua, who had held the Ukrainian flag aloft with Usyk as they waited for the decision in what seemed an acceptance of defeat, then had an uncharacteristic meltdown after a fight billed as \u201cRage on the Red Sea\u201d.<\/p>\n

He took two of the belts, dropping them as he left the ring and headed for the dressing room before turning around and stepping back between the ropes to take the microphone and address the crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this guy to beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better but it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in, so please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was studying Ukraine and all the champions from your amazing country. I’ve never been there. What’s happening there, I don’t know but it’s not nice \u2026 under those circumstances he’s managed to become champion.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"
Anthony Joshua in action against Oleksandr Usyk [Andrew Couldridge\/ Action Images via Reuters]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a gruelling five-month training camp, Usyk entered the arena in a blue-and-yellow top carrying the words \u201cColours of Freedom\u201d and supported by words of encouragement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly video address to the nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stick together,\u201d the president said. \u201cWe help each other. We restored what was destroyed. We fight for all our people. And we cheer for those who represent Ukraine, today \u2014 definitely for Usyk, our guy!\u201d<\/p>\n

The opening round was tentative, with Joshua’s corner calling for him to adjust his rhythm, and the bout continued with Usyk constantly moving and using his jab and body shots to good effect.<\/p>\n

Round nine raised the tempo dramatically, with Joshua enjoying his best round before Usyk came back hard in the 10th.<\/p>\n

Needing a knockout and running out of time, the taller and heavy Joshua was unable to land the telling blows against an agile and elusive opponent who hit back hard.<\/p>\n

At the final bell, the two embraced, with the Ukrainian sinking to his knees.<\/p>\n

Usyk said the fight was historic.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany generations are going to watch this fight, especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard. But I stood up to it and turned it in a different way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Usyk also claimed the Ring Magazine belt with the win.<\/p>\n

There is just one heavyweight title that Usyk does not own \u2014 the WBC one that is about to be vacated by Tyson Fury, who says he is retired.<\/p>\n

When asked about Fury, Usyk said: \u201cI am sure Tyson Fury is not retired yet. I am sure Tyson Fury wants to fight me. If I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk has beaten Britain’s Anthony Joshua in a surprise split points decision and retained his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO world heavyweight boxing belts. The fight in Saudi Arabia’s Jedda on Sunday was a rematch of one in London in September, which Usyk won on an unanimous decision to take the belts from …<\/p>\n

Usyk beats Joshua, retains heavyweight boxing belts | Russia-Ukraine war News<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[6],"tags":[4183,1163,46,1329,307,1562],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":51806,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/usyk-takes-heavyweight-victory-over-anthony-joshua\/","url_meta":{"origin":51740,"position":0},"title":"Usyk takes heavyweight victory over Anthony Joshua","date":"August 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with a flag of Ukraine after his heavyweight boxing victory over Britain's Anthony Joshua in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Francois Nel | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesOleksandr Usyk took a second consecutive victory over Anthony Joshua to defend his unified WBO, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles over\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51629,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/oleksandr-usyks-victory-builds-a-clear-path-to-the-undisputed-championship-if-tyson-fury-wants-it\/","url_meta":{"origin":51740,"position":1},"title":"Oleksandr Usyk’s victory builds a clear path to the undisputed championship — if Tyson Fury wants it","date":"August 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"9:47 PM ETMike CoppingerESPN Oleksandr Usyk proved once again that he's arguably one of the best fighters in the world with a gutsy victory over Anthony Joshua on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to retain his three heavyweight titles.Now, he's only one belt short of being called the undisputed heavyweight\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51569,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/oleksandr-usyk-vs-anthony-joshua-2-fight-results-highlights-ukrainian-champion-retains-titles-by-decision-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":51740,"position":2},"title":"Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 fight results, highlights: Ukrainian champion retains titles by decision","date":"August 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Were there any doubt that Oleksandr Usyk were truly the better man when he defeated Anthony Joshua in their first meeting, the Ukrainian erased them on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Usyk won the rematch to remain WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion inside the Jeddah Superdome after 12 hard-fought rounds\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51537,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/oleksandr-usyk-vs-anthony-joshua-2-fight-results-highlights-ukrainian-champion-retains-titles-by-decision\/","url_meta":{"origin":51740,"position":3},"title":"Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 fight results, highlights: Ukrainian champion retains titles by decision","date":"August 21, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Were there any doubt that Oleksandr Usyk were truly the better man when he defeated Anthony Joshua in their first meeting, the Ukrainian erased them on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Usyk won the rematch to remain WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight champion inside the Jeddah Superdome after 12 hard-fought rounds\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Sports"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51416,"url":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/oleksandr-usyk-vs-anthony-joshua-2-fight-results-live-boxing-updates-scorecard-start-time-undercard\/","url_meta":{"origin":51740,"position":4},"title":"Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 fight results: Live boxing updates, scorecard, start time, undercard","date":"August 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"There's nothing quite like a heavyweight championship bout and Saturday brings us two of the best in the world slugging it out for a second time. 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