Oleksandr Usyk admits his sensational win over Anthony Joshua went ‘exactly’ how he expected

Oleksandr Usyk insists sensational win over Anthony Joshua went ‘EXACTLY’ how he predicted, as he warns ‘I can be much better’ after becoming new world heavyweight champion

  • Oleksandr Usyk is the new unified heavyweight world champion
  • The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 65,000 fans on Saturday night
  • Outclassed Anthony Joshua finished the bout slumped against the ropes


Oleksandr Usyk warned ‘I can be much better’ after dethroning Anthony Joshua with an incredible performance on Saturday night. 

The Ukrainian was giving up three inches in height and four in reach, as well as nearly 20lbs in weight, but the former undisputed world cruiserweight champion’s technical acumen came to the fore in an electric atmosphere.

Usyk put on a masterclass in front of 65,000 fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, outclassing Joshua over 12 rounds, and hurting the defending champion on several occasions. 

Oleksandr Usyk is the new unified heavyweight world champion after beating Anthony Joshua

Afterwards he said: ‘The fight went exactly the way I expected it to go. There were a couple of moments when Anthony pushed me hard, but nothing special.

‘I had no objective to knock him out because my trainers pushed me not to do that. 

‘At the beginning I hit him hard and tried to knock him out but my trainers said to stop and just do my job.

‘The only thing I wanted to do with this fight was to five praise to my Lord, Jesus Christ and say all comes from him.

The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 65,000 fans inside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

‘Today, 12 years ago, my wife said to me yes, today I am double happy.’

Joshua finished the bout slumped against the ropes as his smaller foe looked for a dramatic finish and while it was not forthcoming, Usyk claimed the WBA, IBF and WBO titles after he was given the nod by all three judges.

Scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113 were just reward after a near-masterclass from the unbeaten Usyk, who became only the third fighter after Evander Holyfield and David Haye to win world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.

Joshua, who was obligated to face WBO mandatory challenger Usyk after a bout against Fury fell through earlier this year, seemed accepting of the result when the scores came as he suffered just the second defeat of his career. 

Joshua finished the bout slumped against the ropes as he suffered his second professional loss

Joshua finished the bout slumped against the ropes as he suffered his second professional loss

Usyk says the fight went exactly as expected and warned that he can only improve

Usyk says the fight went exactly as expected and warned that he can only improve 

Joshua was hurt on several occasions, most notably in the final seconds of the fight as a flurry of punches sent the Briton reeling back to the ropes, just about hanging on from the onslaught before being put out of his misery by the judges.

Usyk added: ‘I have been working so hard since January in preparation for this fight, it took me half a year and I didn’t see my family for so long. I miss my family, I want to go home and I am not thinking about the rematch at the moment.

‘You didn’t see the best Usyk, I can be much better. ‘

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