Jeddah Superdome, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian heavyweight (over 90.7 kg) Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) defeated Briton Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs) in rematch, defending the title of unified world champion according to WBA Super, IBF and WBO.
Usyk immediately set the highest pace and density of the fight: he confused with feints, moved, jabbed, got several times with left straight lines. Joshua responded with body shots. There were few of them.
Joshua’s second and third three-minute periods turned out much better: the challenger pressed more aggressively and more confidently, connected the jab, landed a right cross and a left hook. Usyk got his own back in the 4th three-minute period: combinations went, he went through the left straight. The challenger tried to catch him with an uppercut, but missed.
In the 5th round, Joshua hit below the belt. Pause in the fight. Usyk gradually increases the density of the battle. The challenger tried to push the champion to the ropes, but he easily got out of the pressure and responded with a multi-hit combination. In the 8th round, the referee suspended the fight – a slippery ring.
The 8th round turned out to be tough: Joshua did a great job on the body of the Ukrainian, he answered with unaccented blows to the head. In the next three minutes, the champion was forced to survive: he picked up blows and began to cycle. The applicant has been active. Let’s see if his assault was justified.
And there is! One-sided 10th three-minute round in favor of Usyk. Joshua decided to rub his back against the ropes of the ring, backed himself into a corner, but did not fall. The Briton tried to snatch the 11th round, fired several times below the waist. The referee ignored. In the decisive three-minute period, the challenger went for broke with the last of his strength, but lost the round. Mustache win? Or a robbery?
So we have Joshua 115-113, Usyk 115-113 and Usyk 116-112. Phew!
Mustache SD 12.