Oleksandr Usyk handed Anthony Joshua his second professional loss and collected his three heavyweight title belts — WBA, WBO and IBF. See what it means for both boxers.
In a unanimous decision, with scores 117-112, 116-112, 115-113, Usyk was declared winner in his bout against Nigerian-born boxing champion Joshua.
What does the result mean for Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk? While for AJ, it’s his second loss in 25 fights, it takes the Ukrainian boxer’s tally to 19-0. In addition, the loss means that Oleksandr Usyk now holds the heavyweight title belts — WBA, WBO and IBF. Also, according to USA Today, he is in a possible position to face the winner of the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder fight on 9 October 2021.
But before that happens, he will have to get back in the ring with Joshua, who will more than likely trigger the rematch clause. Speaking with Sky Sports, promoter Eddie Hearn said AJ will want a rematch.
“It’s going to be really difficult because Usyk’s confidence will be sky-high, but when you get to the level of Anthony Joshua, as we saw after the Ruiz defeat, there’s no 10-round comeback fights and warm-ups,” he said. “It’s straight back into the fire, and he will want to go straight back into that rematch. He will be an underdog in the rematch this time after that tonight, but that’s what he does.”
