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Anthony Joshua vs Usyk LIVE: Fight result, reaction and boxing highlights

Follow live reaction after the Briton lost his IBF, WBO and WBA titles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Dylan Terry,Jack Rathborn
Sunday 26 September 2021 12:13 BST
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Anthony Joshua arrives at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for his fight with Usyk

Follow live coverage after Oleksandr Usyk produced a flawless display of boxing to beat Anthony Joshua and dethrone him as world heavyweight champion.

The former unified cruiserweight champion was punch perfect as he hurt Joshua early and often on his way to a deserved and unanimous points victory (117-112, 116-112, 115-113) in front of more than 63,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The Ukrainian’s performance hands Joshua only the second professional defeat of his career in just his third fight at heavyweight and leaves hopes of an all-British clash with Tyson Fury in tatters.

Instead a rematch to attempt win back his IBF, WBO and WBA straps will surely be next after a chastening evening for the now former champ. Follow live reaction and analysis below from a big night of boxing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:

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Anthony Joshua faces hard road back to the top after harsh lessons in defeat

“Anthony Joshua’s boxing world was turned upside down in north London late on Saturday night in front of nearly 70,000 devoted fans.

Joshua was finished at the end, in pain, lucky to hear the last bell, barely on his feet, both eyes damaged, his nose bleeding and his world heavyweight title belts gone long before the official verdict. He was still throwing punches and never forget that.”

Steve Bunce delivers the final word on AJ’s defeat to Usyk in London.

Anthony Joshua faces hard road back to the top after harsh lessons in defeat

A demoralising defeat but the British fighter refused to be downbeat afterwards

Karl Matchett26 September 2021 12:13
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Usyk loves London but dreams of Anthony Joshua rematch in Kiev

London continues to be Oleksandr Usyk’s lucky city but the new WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion would relish returning to his native Ukraine for a rematch against Anthony Joshua.

Despite giving away three inches in height, four in reach and nearly 20lbs in weight to Joshua, the superior ringcraft of the ex-undisputed world cruiserweight champion was there for all to see in his unanimous decision win.

The 34-year-old’s stunning triumph in just his third heavyweight bout in an electric atmosphere created by more than 66,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium carried on his love affair with the English capital.

Usyk collected Olympic heavyweight gold nine years ago the day before Joshua topped the podium in the division above and admitted even his latest success pales in comparison to what he achieved in 2012.

“London is a really lucky city for me but not a single professional victory can be above an Olympic gold,” he said, via a translator. “I would love to have the rematch at Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev.”

Oleksandr Usyk loves London but dreams of Anthony Joshua rematch in Kiev

The Ukrainian collected Olympic heavyweight gold in England’s capital city nine years ago.

Karl Matchett26 September 2021 10:58
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No regrets for Anthony Joshua after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua says he’ll be refraining from looking at defeat in a negative light and will only look ahead to his next opportunity.

“If it went well then it would have been perfect but it didn’t so I can’t really look at it and have any regrets.

“What I’m happy about is I can go again and I’ve got a chance of becoming heavyweight champion of the world again. Only positives from here moving forward, I’ve had enough of looking at things from a negative point of view.”

Anthony Joshua has no regrets about tactics and says ‘I can go again’

The Briton was dethroned as world heavyweight champion by Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.

Karl Matchett26 September 2021 10:00
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Anthony Joshua breaks silence after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua has vowed to “keep positive” in the wake of his devastating defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night.

The Ukrainian produced a flawless display to hand Joshua a second defeat of his professional career and dethrone him as IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight champ.

The former unified cruiserweight champion secured a hugely deserved unanimous points victory (117-112, 116-112, 115-113) in front of more than 63,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Anthony Joshua breaks silence after defeat to Oleksandr Usyk

The Ukrainian secured a hugely deserved unanimous points victory to become IBF, WBO and WBA champion

Ben Burrows26 September 2021 02:05
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Anthony Joshua ‘already talking about winning the rematch' against Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua is “already talking about winning the rematch” against Oleksandr Usyk, according to Eddie Hearn.

The former unified cruiserweight champion produced a masterclass to hand Joshua a second defeat of his professional career and dethrone him as IBF, WBO and WBA champ.

The Ukrainian secured a hugely deserved unanimous points victory (117-112, 116-112, 115-113) in front of more than 63,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua has a rematch clause and promoter Hearn suggests he’ll be ready to trigger it after a chastening defeat.

Anthony Joshua ‘already talking about winning rematch’ against Oleksandr Usyk

The Ukrainian secured a hugely deserved unanimous points victory to become IBF, WBO and WBA champion

Ben Burrows26 September 2021 01:35
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Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision

Dylan Terry26 September 2021 01:15
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Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision

Former British heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte accused Anthony Joshua of lacking ambition after he lost his heavyweight titles in a crushing defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

Dillian Whyte accuses Anthony Joshua of lacking ambition against Oleksandr Usyk

Challenger Usyk claimed a stunning unanimous decision win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Dylan Terry26 September 2021 00:55
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Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision

Hearn in full:

Dylan Terry26 September 2021 00:35
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Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision

More from Hearn.

Speaking about Usyk, he said: “He goes down in history. No complaints from AJ, but it’s a tough defeat… He chose tonight to take on a pound-for-pound great. It didn’t work out, but he should get credit for that. He was beaten by the better man.”

Dylan Terry26 September 2021 00:15
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Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision

Eddie Hearn has already confirmed (in typical Hearn fashion) that Anthony Joshua will take the rematch which was in the contract for the fight with Usyk.

He said: “The fighter in AJ is already talking about, ‘I’ll win the rematch.’ Usyk was the deserved winner. He’s got to make changes in the rematch. He will want to go straight back into that rematch.”

Dylan Terry25 September 2021 23:57

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