Round-by-Round: Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk - 25 September 2021

[KiwiRider]

I struggle to believe that with all the money these men have made, how they look like they were dressed from the Salvation Army drop off bins
And still letting their mums cut their hair

[stujones]

Skysports just premiered Joshua v Usyk on YouTube. Watched it, decent fight fought at a brisk pace, but wrong tactics from AJ.

Scored it 117-112 Usyk, but there were some rounds that were tricky to draw a firm conclusion. Certainly the right right man

Yes I have seen the fight also now - and I agree but a couple of points.

The size difference wasn't nearly as bad - I mean I thought Usyk looked closer physically to Joshua than Parker, Povetkin and Whyte did.

The head movement of Usyk flummouxed him - people give Fury credit for forcing Klitchsko to fight the wrong fight (I don't buy that personally) - but I certainly think Usyk "forced" Joshua to fight the wrong fight. The head movement early was so impressive.

Joshua's boxing IQ is shit - the instructions of McCraken was fine but it was like he was talking to an amateur novice.

Usyk is something else - he beats Fury for me.

[Counter-puncher]

I struggle to believe that with all the money these men have made, how they look like they were dressed from the Salvation Army drop off bins
And still letting their mums cut their hair

To be fair to their sense of style mate, and I speak as one who’s no Brad Pitt, I don’t think a hairdresser or stylist in the world could make that look like other than a picture of some right ugly koonts. I looked at it and started trying to mentally calculate the distance to Chernobyl

[Counter-puncher]

Usyk aside, who I am very very feel for

[stujones]

Usyk aside, who I am very very feel for

Hey, Usyk's mate to the right of him was trying to find joggers to match the WBC belt.

Quite a funny photo - Usyk holding the belt he doesn't own at Heavyweight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fury's Father Defends Joshua: Give AJ a Break, It Was His Corner's Fault

John Fury, the father of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has actually come out in defense of Anthony Joshua.

Last weekend, Joshua suffered a twelve round unanimous decision loss to Oleksandr Uysk, who walked away with the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight titles.

The unexpected loss derailed a possible Fury vs. Joshua unification for early 2022.

Joshua will now face Usyk in a rematch in the first quarter of next year.

Many observers have criticized Joshua for his performance - with many of them pointing to Joshua's strategy of attempting to box with the smaller man, who is widely regarded as a superior boxer.

However, the elder Fury has blamed Joshua's corner, including head trainer Robert McCracken, for utilizing the wrong game plan and failing to make adjustments during the fight.

"Listen he’s a very awkward man Usyk. Obviously he’d never fought anybody like that before. What he did need to do is adopt Derek Chisora’s game plan because he did a better job than what [AJ] did," John Fury told BT Sport.

"I thought if he used his weight a bit more and put a bit more devil in his work, it could’ve gone better for him. I was surprised because he’s a big dude. He might’ve lost too much weight, but what he needed to do was get all over him and put him under pressure. Not let him settle. When your plan ain’t working, it’s up to the corner to switch it up, and they never. They kept saying in the eighth round, ‘Be smart behind your jab.’

“It wasn’t working because he was in front of a master technician and he played Usyk’s game from the beginning. They didn’t try and change it – it’s his corner’s fault. Give AJ a break. Because it wasn’t all AJ’s fault, it was his corner, they never had the brains to help him out of a sticky situation. You’ve got to know that the men in your corner know the fight game.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

John Fury always blaming the corner as usual.

[margaret thatcher]

Klitschko presents Usyk with WBC belt



More Pics

dude sitting on the far left of the pic was too cool to join them for the photo

[Controversial]

Skysports just premiered Joshua v Usyk on YouTube. Watched it, decent fight fought at a brisk pace, but wrong tactics from AJ.

Scored it 117-112 Usyk, but there were some rounds that were tricky to draw a firm conclusion. Certainly the right right man

I watched it on YouTube last night too. It wasn't as one sided as I was expecting from all the posts I'd seen, after 8 rounds or so it was pretty close. Usyk definitely the deserved winner though and his fitness and ring IQ paid dividends in the later rounds.

[TheLeprechaun]

I wonder how many people on here actually watch the fights live? How can you only be catching this fight on the youtube replay.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Skysports just premiered Joshua v Usyk on YouTube. Watched it, decent fight fought at a brisk pace, but wrong tactics from AJ.

Scored it 117-112 Usyk, but there were some rounds that were tricky to draw a firm conclusion. Certainly the right right man

I watched it on YouTube last night too. It wasn't as one sided as I was expecting from all the posts I'd seen, after 8 rounds or so it was pretty close. Usyk definitely the deserved winner though and his fitness and ring IQ paid dividends in the later rounds.

It's probably because AJ was coming on strong towards the last min of each round, probably trying to steal the rounds, but Usyk was comfortably in control.

Props to Usyk. He used his feet a lot, but 90% of the time he was in front of AJ.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I wonder how many people on here actually watch the fights live? How can you only be catching this fight on the youtube replay.

The RBR was on fire, but it's same ones that post after every round.

Some will watch it and not post until the fight's over.

[Controversial]

I wonder how many people on here actually watch the fights live? How can you only be catching this fight on the youtube replay.

I would've watched it live but had other commitments that night, proper Sky Sports replay on YouTube now so next best thing for me.

[Controversial]

It's probably because AJ was coming on strong towards the last min of each round, probably trying to steal the rounds, but Usyk was comfortably in control.

Props to Usyk. He used his feet a lot, but 90% of the time he was in front of AJ.

Yes Usyk never in any danger, perfect gameplan.

[stujones]

The more I watch the fight (and it was a nice fight to watch and admire Usyk's brilliance) the more I am flummouxed at how novicy AJ is. AJ's body language when Usyk tagged him or made him miss and then counter - it was like when a raw but keen novice goes to the gym against an experience amateur - when the exeprience amateur just tags him just to show him whose boss - AJ gave that knowing smile like a raw novice "okay you're more experienced than me, but one day I'll get you" - he should not be talking about Learning now - he's in his 30s and has been a 10 year pro nearly. Yes he was a late starter, but no excuses now - he's a hell of alot more experienced than Tyson was winning his world title - yet he talks like Tyson did when he was 18/19.

I gave AJ 3 rounds and whilst I am not saying some of Usyk's rounds were also close - the three rounds I gave AJ were the closest.

I'm glad Hearn not to continued to mention as much the "it was even after 8 and AJ damaged his eye in the 9th" - as if was the eye damaged that cost AJ the fight. Usyk outclassed him - reminded me a bit of Hamed vs Barerra - even though on paper it was a closish fight - there was only one winner.

[Counter-puncher]

That bloke shouting ‘brilliant’ as Joshua punches air is fking cringe. Definition of cheerleading. ‘Brilliant feet’ seemingly just because Joshua managed to remain standing, i mean that’s about all Joshua needed to do to be told he was doing brilliant.

Absolute bizarre to listen to

[JamesPhilips]

That bloke shouting ‘brilliant’ as Joshua punches air is fking cringe. Definition of cheerleading. ‘Brilliant feet’ seemingly just because Joshua managed to remain standing, i mean that’s about all Joshua needed to do to be told he was doing brilliant.

Absolute bizarre to listen to

Has this man been identified? And if he’s out of the corner is this kind of thing allowed?

[Counter-puncher]

That bloke shouting ‘brilliant’ as Joshua punches air is fking cringe. Definition of cheerleading. ‘Brilliant feet’ seemingly just because Joshua managed to remain standing, i mean that’s about all Joshua needed to do to be told he was doing brilliant.

Absolute bizarre to listen to

Has this man been identified? And if he’s out of the corner is this kind of thing allowed?

my guess, given he had an accent that sounded a bit Midlands, but he wasn't McCracken, that it was that Joby whatsisface from a gym in wolverhampton.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wladimir Klitschko: Joshua Can Still Have His Time, Usyk is Something Special

Former unified world champion Wladimir Klitschko believes his former foe, Anthony Joshua, can bounce back strong from the jaws of defeat.

In the final bout of his career, in 2017, Klitschko was stopped in the eleventh round of a 'Fight of The Year' scrap with Joshua.

Last Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Joshua suffered a twelve round decision loss to Klitschko's countryman, Oleksandr Usyk, who became the new IBF, WBA, IBO and WBO world champion.

During his Hall of Fame run, Klitschko suffered several defeats and at one point some critics felt his career was over.

However, he was able to rebuild himself and dominantly reigned for over a decade without a single loss.

Joshua will attempt to reclaim his unified crown in the first quarter of 2022, when he faces Usyk in a rematch.

"We have seen AJ challenged," said Klitschko, according to Sky Sports.

"I remember my time. I lost two fights within [13 months in 2003 and 2004]. To bounce back? To eventually become one of the longest reigning champions? AJ can still have his time, absolutely. It is all about how to overcome the challenge."

Joshua recently issued a statement to his followers, advising them that he knows what to do in the second fight.

"I've watched the fight, analyzed my preparations and identified my mistakes," Joshua stated. "I've learnt my lesson. Don't worry about me. My spirit is strong!"

Klistschko's older brother, former WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, was ringside at Tottenham to support Usyk's conquest.

Wladimir Klitschko was also proud of what his countryman accomplished.

"Usyk made history. Since 2012, I watched Usyk winning his gold and I watched AJ winning his gold," Klitschko said.

"Usyk has been undefeated for such a long time, winning all the titles as a cruiserweight and now with the heavyweights. This man is something special."

[Fightnight Scores]

Missed the RBR for this one unfortunately but Fightnight Scores had a good number scoring.
Just glad the scores that mattered were fair and correct!

[liamlion]

I was at the fight with friends, in the “cheap” seats. Brilliant production and a massive gathering for Boxing. It was a big event.

Joshua has been promoted and marketed so well.

To me, it seemed like Joshua needed to let his hands go and fight to try and retain his titles. He never did and was relatively passive.

Could it be possible that Joshua struggled under the weight of expectation? Usyk beat up Joshua by the end and Joshua was spent. Struggling in his corner at the end didn’t look great.

[Grilling Machine]

Could it be possible that Joshua struggled under the weight of expectation?

Very possible. Joshua had a great run up to and including Wlad, but since becoming champ I think he's been fighting his belts as much as any challenger. Guilty of talking up his legacy before it's written, and then carrying that self-made pressure into every fight.

In 2016 he was someone who'd won Gold and was focused on trying to become the champ, same as Joyce now. Much healthier mental outlook. Usyk's never gone along saying he's gonna usurp Holyfield or owt. I would blame our media somewhat, along with Fastcar's appeals to fair-weather fans.

If AJ were truly humble he'd admit he was outboxed handily, and needs to find a couple more gears in the rematch. If he analyses individual things, he'll come away thinking he only needs to change individual things to win. It's an overhaul he needs. To readopt his challenger mindset and just go for it. He'll never be a great boxer, but he is a great sprint athlete, and could give Usyk a torrid time for 6 rounds.

I could be talking about Wilder-Fury there, where D felt so close to winning their first fight he didn't change it up for the rematch, apparently assuming he'd get another knockdown and seal the deal that time. It's only now in their third fight he realises Fury adapts and he needs to throw more caution to the wind, but he'd be changing a career habit. I hope he does! It'll be hugely entertaining if he activates the windmill from the off.

More sensibly, if he can hurt Fury to the body he can try hooks and uppercuts when Fury opens his guard to clinch. Or maybe just if Wilder shows a lot more than his straight right, he might then land one!

Anyway, Joshua needs to aim to beat Usyk in the first half with well-measured aggression. Any other plan (unless Usyk gets cut or injured) is daft.

[KiwiRider]

I miss the windmill.
So many gifs and memes.

[gregregegg]

Does anyone know what caused usyks cut? it was a really bad cut, lower levle fights get stopped for them. I remembering noticing he was cut there but didnt see what did it and didnt care really because at the time i thought it was a small cut, but having seen some post fight pictures (befor it was stitched) its a fornicating big cut in a bad spot and i probably should of cared what caused it. it was hardly mentioned by comentary, they didnt seem concerned at all, i dont even know if it came from a head clash or punch....

So does anyone know what time in what round the cut actually occured?and if it was a punch or headclash?

[margaret thatcher]

aj got robbed, they shoulda stopped it on that cut