Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk explained

Fight Name:The Perfect Storm
Fight Date:25 September 2021
Location:Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham, London, England
Titles:WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles
Fighter1: Anthony Joshua
Nickname1:"AJ"
Hometown1:Watford, Hertfordshire, England
Record1:24–1 (22 KOs)
Height1:6 ft 6 in
Weight1:240 lbs
Style1:Orthodox
Recognition1:WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO
Heavyweight Champion
The Ring/TBRB
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
Fighter2: Oleksandr Usyk
Nickname2:"The Cat"
Hometown2:Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine
Record2:18–0 (13 KOs)
Height2:6 ft 3 in
Weight2:221+1/4 lb
Style2:Southpaw
Recognition2:WBO
No. 1 Ranked Heavyweight
IBF
No. 2 Ranked Heavyweight
WBA
No. 4 Ranked Heavyweight
Former undisputed cruiserweight champion
The Ring No. 4 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
The Ring/TBRB
No. 10 Ranked Heavyweight
Result:Usyk wins via 12–round unanimous decision (117–112, 116–112, 115–113)

Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk, billed as The Perfect Storm, was a professional boxing match that was contested between WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, and former undisputed cruiserweight champion and the WBO's heavyweight mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Usyk. The bout took place on 25 September 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Usyk winning by unanimous decision.

Background

Usyk became the first ever four-belt undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018 after winning the World Boxing Super Series tournament. Following the decision to move up to the heavyweight division in 2019, and after Joshua lost his titles against Andy Ruiz Jr in June of that year, Usyk successfully petitioned the WBO to be installed as their mandatory challenger. Per the WBO's rules, a 'super champion' is entitled to the mandatory challenger status in the event they move to a different weight class.[1] Joshua regained his titles by defeating Ruiz in a rematch in December 2019, prompting the WBO to order a fight between Joshua and Usyk. The following day, the IBF also ordered Joshua to face their mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev.[2] After Joshua fulfilled his IBF mandatory with a victory over Pulev in December 2020, the WBO held off on ordering a fight between Joshua and Usyk while talks progressed between the former and Tyson Fury for an undisputed heavyweight title bout.

In the meantime, Usyk's team entered into negotiations with Joe Joyce, with the intention of fighting for the WBO interim title.[3] However, on 17 May, a day after Fury confirmed the date of a Joshua fight, the news broke that a judge had ordered Fury to fulfill a prior contractual obligation and face Deontay Wilder before September 2021. The following day the WBO issued Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, with a "show cause" order, giving him 48 hours to provide proof of a contract between Joshua and Fury, and failure to do so would force Joshua to enter negotiations with Usyk.[4] Hearn requested an extension on the deadline, which was denied by the WBO, who then ordered Joshua to reach a deal with Usyk within 10 days before holding a purse bid for rights to the fight.[5]

On 25 June, Hearn announced that the bout would take place on 25 September, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[6] [7]

Fight results

Oleksandr Usyk became only the third boxer in history – after Evander Holyfield and David Haye – to win world titles both at cruiserweight and heavyweight. At the same time, Anthony Joshua's defeat left the prospect of a highly anticipated undisputed unification bout with Tyson Fury in tatters.[8] [9]

According to CompuBox, Oleksandr Usyk connected more total punches than Anthony Joshua – 148 to 123. He was also more precise of the two opponents, landing 28% of punches thrown compared to Joshua's 19.2%. Usyk's landed punches were the most by a Joshua opponent. Usyk closed the show by landing 29 punches in round 12, the most by a Joshua opponent.[10]

After the fight, Usyk performed a Cossack dance in the ring to celebrate his victory.[11]

Scoring card by judges

1. Howard Foster (red): 113–115 for Usyk[12]
2. Steve Weisfield (white): 112–116 for Usyk[12]
3. Viktor Fesechko[13] [14] (blue): 112–117 for Usyk[12]

Reception

Critics universally praised Usyk's performance during the fight. Coral Barry of BBC Sport called it "exceptional", "incredible" and a "masterclass". Chris Eubank Jr. called it "one of the biggest statements in boxing for a very long time".[11] Lennox Lewis called it "a great tactical performance".[15] Max Kellerman compared the match to Holmes vs. Spinks, in which a reign of a bigger boxer was likewise ended.[16] Roy Jones Jr. reacted: "Usyk didn't beat [Joshua]. He dominated him".[17]

Regarding the defender's performance, Coral Barry noted: "It was a strange, almost hapless display from Joshua which leaves his legacy as one of the heavyweight greats in ruins."[18]

Aftermath

See also: Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II. Immediately after the fight, Anthony Joshua's team has "activated in principle" the rematch clause to face Oleksandr Usyk in early 2022.[19] Eddie Hearn has warned that Joshua will be more aggressive in the rematch: "You'll see a different Anthony Joshua in this fight… This game plan is not box and move, this plan is to go in and hurt Usyk".[20] On 10 October, Joshua officially exercised his contractual right to an immediate rematch.[21] On 22 June, it was announced that a rematch was scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 20 August with Usyk defending the WBA, WBO and IBF championship belts, and Joshua, as the challenger.[22]

Fight card

Weight Classvs.MethodRoundTimeNotes
HeavyweightOleksandr Usykdef.Anthony Joshua (c)12/12
CruiserweightLawrence Okolie (c)def.Dilan PrašovićKO3/121:57
LightweightCampbell Hattondef.Sonni MartinezPTS6/6
Light heavyweightCallum Smithdef.Lenin Castillo2/100:55
WelterweightFlorian Markudef.Maxim Prodan (c)10/10
MiddleweightCristopher Ousleydef.Khasan Baysangurov10/10
Light heavyweightDaniel Lapindef.Pawel Martyniuk6/6



Broadcasting

The undercard was televised for a 30 minute Freeview on Sky Sports Arena, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Boxing YouTube. The main event was televised live on Sky Sports Box Office PPV in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as MEGOGO in Ukraine.

CountryBroadcaster
Free-to-airCable/Pay TVPPVStream
Sky Sports Boxing YouTube
Sky Sports Mix (undercard)
Sky Sports Arena
Sky Sports Main Event
Sky Showcase (undercard)
Sky Sports Box Office
MEGOGO[23]
Canal+[24] MyCanal
RTL 7[25] RTL XL
REN TV[26] colspan="3"
WorldwideDAZN

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Benson. Michael. 24 June 2019. WBO explain why Usyk is made mandatory for Ruiz vs Joshua rematch winner, not Whyte. live. 22 May 2021. Talksport. https://web.archive.org/web/20190825143507/https://talksport.com/sport/boxing/563085/boxing-news-wbo-oleksandr-usyk-mandatory-andy-ruiz-jr-vs-anthony-joshua-rematch-dillian-whyte/ . 25 August 2019 .
  2. Web site: Rafael. Dan. 12 December 2019. Joshua has dual mandatory orders from IBF, WBO. live. 22 May 2021. ESPN. https://web.archive.org/web/20191213025655/https://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/story/_/id/28285115/anthony-joshua-competing-mandatory-defenses-wbo-ibf . 13 December 2019 .
  3. Web site: Donovan. Jake. 19 January 2021. Fury-Joshua: WBO To Conditionally Approve Undisputed Championship. 23 May 2021. BoxingScene.com.
  4. Web site: Donovan. Jake. 19 May 2021. Joshua-Usyk: WBO Gives Hearn 48 Hours To Provide Proof of Fury Deal. 23 May 2021. BoxingScene.com.
  5. Web site: Donovan. Jake. 22 May 2021. WBO Orders Joshua-Usyk, Rejects Hearn Request For Extension On Show Cause Notice. 23 May 2021. BoxingScene.com.
  6. Web site: 25 June 2021. Eddie Hearn confirms Anthony Joshua will fight Oleksandr Usyk on September 25. live. 25 June 2021. The Independent. https://web.archive.org/web/20210625223321/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/anthony-joshua-oleksandr-usyk-eddie-hearn-deontay-wilder-saudi-arabia-b1873125.html . 25 June 2021 .
  7. Web site: Anthony Joshua: 'I need to fight Tyson Fury, we need it for boxing'. 13 September 2021. BBC Sport. 14 September 2021.
  8. News: Anthony Joshua result: Brit loses by unanimous decision as Oleksandr Usyk outclasses champion with magnificent boxing performance to leave Tyson Fury super-fight in tatters . Michael . Benson . talkSport.com . 26 September 2021.
  9. News: Boxing lost its biggest fight in Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua but gained a star in Oleksandr Usyk . ESPN . Mike . Coppinger . 26 September 2021.
  10. News: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua - CompuBox Punch Stats . BoxingScene . 25 September 2021.
  11. News: Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision – as it happened . Luke . McLaughlin . The Guardian . 25 September 2021.
  12. https://www.sportbible.com/boxing/news-reactions-ringside-footage-emerges-of-anthony-joshuas-sarcastic-reaction-20210926 Ringside Footage Emerges Of Anthony Joshua's 'Sarcastic' Reaction After Scorecards Were Read Out
  13. The name of the judge was incorrectly entered on the scoring card. Instead of Fesechko, the organizers wrote Fesechenko.
  14. https://boxrec.com/en/judge/6872 Judge's profile of Viktor Fesechko on the boxrec.com
  15. News: Joe . Coleman . Lennox Lewis critical of Anthony Joshua as 'Battle of Britain' hopes with Tyson Fury in tatters after Oleksandr Usyk outclasses AJ . 26 September 2021 . talkSport.com .
  16. News: A new champion: Reactions to Oleksandr Usyk's victory against Anthony Joshua . ESPN . William . Ricks . 26 September 2021.
  17. News: Boxing world reacts to Oleksandr Usyk upset of Anthony Joshua: 'He dominated him' . Zac . Al-Khateeb . 26 September 2021 . Sporting News.
  18. News: Coral . Barry . Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua: Ukrainian challenger outclasses Briton by unanimous decision . BBC Sport . 25 September 2021.
  19. News: Anthony Joshua rematch clause 'activated in principle' as Oleksandr Usyk pushes for Kiev fight venue . September 29, 2021 . DAZN . Alexander . Netherton .
  20. News: Eddie Hearn: Joshua's Game Plan Is To Hurt Usyk In The Rematch, Not Box . 27 September 2021 . Boxing News 24/7 . Michael . Collins .
  21. News: Anthony Joshua exercises right to rematch with Oleksandr Usyk for heavyweight championship . October 10, 2021 . Mike . Coppinger . ESPN.
  22. "Usyk, Joshua share intense faceoff, ready for rematch". BY STEVE DOUGLAS. AP SPORTS. JUNE 22, 2022. https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article262724677.html
  23. Web site: Broadcast of the fight "Joshua - Usyk" and the movie "Stadion, tak stadion"* – розклад сеансів, квитки у кіно у Кінотеатрі Сінема Сіті Kyiv, Ocean Plaza. 2021-09-20. cinemaciti.ua.
  24. Web site: Joshua affrontera Usyk le 25 septembre. 2021-09-14. myCANAL. fr-FR.
  25. Web site: WK Boksen: Joshua Vs. Usyk. 2021-09-14. www.tvgids.tv.
  26. Web site: Бой: Усик - Джошуа. 2021-09-20. www.ren.tv.