By Victor Kanayo
Nigerian-British boxer, Anthony Joshua’s hope of recapturing the unified heavyweight titles didn’t see the light after Oleksandr Usyk produced a terrific performance to win by split decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
In a clash billed as the Rage on the Red Sea, a spirited Joshua, 32, showed some aggressiveness and intent – a vast improvement from their first fight – but could not match the brilliance and ring savviness of the Ukrainian.
Earlier, Usyk started finding his range and rhythm in the fourth round, landing combinations to the head.
The fifth was more even, though, going well for Usyk until AJ’s body attack shifted down below the belt.
After a pause and warning, Joshua resumed on the offensive. Neither set of fans seemed sure who had won this on and nor was I.
The Ukrainian mastermind then stole the sixth round, and was equally clever in the seventh, nipping in and out of Joshua’s range to pick him apart and continue his comeback from the early rounds.
Joshua then landed a big right to the head and a couple to the body in rounds eight. And though he was performing much better than last time, Usyk was coming into fuller flow.
The ninth was a huge one for Joshua, who had Usyk reeling around the ring and holding on under a sustained barrage of big rights. But then came the 10th, with Joshua staggering from some dazzling Usyk combinations.
The fight was slipping away in the 11th, and by the final round it was done, with Joshua unable to get the knockout he needed.
Two judges scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk, while a third judge gave it 115-113 to the challenger. While there were some close rounds, Usyk was the deserved winner.
There was a moment of drama as the scores were read out, with Joshua awarded a 115-113 decision by the first judge as the Ukrainian retained his IBF, IBO, WBA titles.
However, Usyk was awarded it 115-113 and 116-112 by the other two judges, and the Ukrainian retained his titles.
