LONDON (ENGLAND) -- Oleksandr Uzyk swept the heavyweight division to become a world champion at two weight with a unanimous points win over Anthony Joshua. This was for the WBA/IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
He was able to keep his footwork in check, while Joshua's 68,000-strong home crowd at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kept him safe.
In the third round, Usyk (21-0, 13KOs), 34, fought Joshua (22-2, 22KOs), 31 in a furious attack in the 12th. Joshua wants a rematch but was unable to really threaten Usyk who was faster to the punch and more difficult to beat.
Punch Stats Punches Joshua Usyk Total Landed 123 148 Total Thrown 641 529 Percent 19% 28 Jabs Landed 52 52 52 52 52 Jabs Threw 427 309 Percent 12 % 17% Power landed at 71 96 Power thrown 212 220 Percent 33% 444% -- Courtesy CompuBox
Joshua, who is naturally larger than he should be, has now lost the titles for the second time in two-years. He is now counting the significant cost of another shocking defeat that will end his chances of fighting Tyson Fury, an English opponent, for the four world heavyweight titles.
WBC champion Fury will defend his title against American Deontay wilder in a third bout on Oct. 9. However, the winner of that fight may now seek a clash with Usyk who won the titles in only his third fight at heavyweight after combining all four world cruiserweight titles.
With Usyk's success most of the world heavyweight title titles are back in Ukraine. Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko were champions for the division from 2004 to 2015. They also held the four belts together. Vitali was present at the London ringside to witness the moment.
Usyk was the mandatory challenger to Joshua's WBO title. He became the third boxer after David Haye (England), and Evander Holyfield, (United States) to win world titles at heavyweight and cruiserweight. The fight was his first as ESPN's No. 4 heavyweight.
The U.K. was once again a good hunting ground for Usyk. This is his third win in three years and it follows his Olympic gold medal at London 2012.
After stunning Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk celebrates in front of 68,000 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Julian Finney/Getty Images
Usyk stated that the fight went exactly as I had hoped.
"It was not a great experience, but Anthony did push me hard at times. I didn't have an objective to knock him out. I was pushed by my corner to not do that. You didn't see Usyk at his best. I could be even better."
Joshua weighed in at 220 pounds. Usyk was 19 pounds heavier, but Usyk, despite his career weight of 221 pounds, was still noticeably smaller. Joshua was three inches tall and had a four inch reach advantage. However, Usyk overcame all obstacles with his quick feet, smart boxing skills, and sheer courage.
Joshua, from Watford enjoyed his first big-stadium crowd visit in the United Kingdom for three years. He looked happy as he made his way to the ring amid fireworks and confetti. He tensed up during the first round which allowed Usyk more shots, including a right hook to his side.
Usyk is from Kyiv and trains with Vasiliy Lomachenko (the brilliant lightweight who won three world titles). Joshua was unable to find Usyk, who has superb footwork and combined it with his southpaw skills made him a formidable target. Although Usyk couldn't put much weight into his shots, he was able to get through the second round with a snaking left hand down the middle in a tentative round.
Usyk continued to find openings, including a left-handed sweep that stunned Joshua in round three. Although the champion smiled and wasn't seriously injured, his corner must have been worried about Usyk’s growing dominance. Joshua responded in the fourth with a stiff right-hand and tightened his defense to stop Usyk from landing anything.
Joshua won the fourth round. He also landed a strong right hand in round five, but was also caught by a few jabs. As Usyk tried to set up his left-hand, his reliable right-hand lead kept flickering out, but he finished the sixth round on the back foot, as Joshua landed single, heavy right hands.
In the seventh round, Usyk did better. He landed a counter left and almost beat Joshua. Joshua was caught by the Ukrainian with a left to his jaw. This sent Joshua stumbling backwards when momentum changed again. Joshua countered with an aggressive eighth round and landed a right uppercut. In the ninth round, Usyk proved too inept.
Joshua's corner tried to reduce the swelling and both had cut around their right eye by the tenth round. To set up the crucial final session, Usyk used sharp punches in the 11th.
Joshua was energized and hungry when Usyk threw two left hands at Joshua's head. Joshua tried to push but couldn't find the punches that would hurt Usyk. Joshua was unable to stop the challenger, who was more determined and bolder. He ended the champion with a barrage if hooks that left Joshua on the ropes. Joshua was rescued by the last bell. Joshua would have been stopped if there had been more time.
