ESPN commentator, former world champion in two categories, American Timothy Bradley expressed his opinion about the past rematch in heavyweight (over 90.7 kg) between the unified champion from Ukraine Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) and ex-champion from Britain Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs), which took place on August 20 in Saudi Arabia and ended with Usyk’s victory on points by a split decision.
Bradley commented on Joshua’s reaction to the defeat, marveled at Usyk’s performance and spoke about the possible future of the British ex-champion.
Report from vRINGe: Fight Usyk – Joshua. ZSU
– What is your reaction to how Usyk beat Joshua in Saudi Arabia?
– I am not surprised. Usyk was the favourite. I thought Usyk was going to knock him out, but Joshua showed him some mental toughness throughout the fight. I think Garcia did a great job getting Joshua ready for all the phantom punches. Joshua didn’t buy it. Almost everything in the beginning. He really held his positions, really kept a strong defense, he just lacked attacking actions. When he threw it out and denounced it, it hit the body many times. And he landed some hard overhand right hands. But you know, Usyk accepted them and came back stronger. Well, it’s just the number. This is the quantity. All these punches are coming at you, and you’re a big heavyweight like Joshua – it was hard to dodge them. It’s hard to adjust to all those flying strikes. But great performance. Although I expected that in the later rounds there would be a knockout or technical knockout.
– The fight could go according to different scenarios. It looks like Joshua almost got his way in the ninth round.
— Yes, but this resilience, this warrior inside Usyk… I will say that he added weight. I don’t think it was a good thing for Usyk. He wasn’t as free as he was in the first fight.
– Not so fast.
– Yes, not so fast on the entries and exits. But for the most part of the fight, he did what he had to. Great performance from Usyk. He showed that he is a special fighter.
– At the press conference, it seemed that it was not clear that Joshua did not care. He really felt bad. The bitterness of defeat was visible. It was a very difficult comeback for him.
“There is no doubt about that. He was upset. He wanted to return the titles, but Usyk is simply a better fighter. Sometimes it happens that the guys just figured you out. Stylistically, you don’t fit. No matter how many times you fight, they will win 9 times out of 10. Usyk is such a fighter for him. He is a nightmare. But I like the fact that he’s downcast. I don’t have any problems with this at all. Everyone accepts defeat differently. This defeat really shocked him because he did everything. He changed coaches, he acted harder, he went to bed earlier, he did everything possible – and it still wasn’t enough. This is disappointing. You used to see him amiable – everything is fine, everything is fine. No, not a damn thing! He knows it was his night to take back the titles and he didn’t. Even if he did everything he had to, and it still wasn’t enough. This is depressing. I just hope he rests for a while, gathers himself, gets up and gets back in the ring. Because believe me, he reproaches himself now, hates himself.
- The reaction of the boxing public to Usyk’s victory over Joshua
Joshua tried. He fizzled out at the end because you need to understand that when you move, throwing all those punches, it’s so hard, it just keeps you on your toes all the time and you’re out of breath. Little by little it drains your energy, locks up your knees, then you miss punches or you try to throw your punches. It’s tiring. Especially when you’re as big as Joshua.
I think he had a good fight plan, it just wasn’t enough. Usyk just threw too many punches. 700+ punches from a heavyweight! Come on guys. These are numbers for welterweight. These are the numbers for Errol Spence. That’s a hell of a lot of punches to deal with. When heavyweights usually throw 300-350, he doubled it. I would say to Joshua – take a long pause, look at the horizon and then decide if you want to keep fighting. I know Joshua won’t leave like that. There is still a possibility if Fury takes the belts from Usyk. I wouldn’t mind seeing a Joshua-Fury fight. This makes sense to me. People say it doesn’t make sense that he lost twice. Guys, I’m talking about uniqueness. Two Britons will enter the ring on their own soil. There is nothing more than this. I think this fight will be bigger than Usyk from a market point of view. He is much more.
Does Usyk have what it takes to beat Tyson Fury?
“Listen, I can’t make my choice right now. I really can’t. I just think Usyk is so smart and so talented inside the ring and with very great positioning. But on the other side of Fury. He can fight in a left-handed stance, he can do all that too. I think Fury has more tools in his arsenal, he’s bigger, he can move forward. Come on guys. We didn’t see knockout power in him. Now he’s knocking out guys. But if you put a gun to my temple now, I’ll choose… Fury.
- “Tyson, come back!” Usyk calls Fury to the ring from the locker room – video