World heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine successfully defended his titles in a rematch against British boxer Anthony Joshua. Usyk, who holds the IBF, WBA, WBO, and IBO titles, improved his record to 20 wins with no losses and 13 knockouts by defeating Joshua, whose record now stands at 24 wins and 1 loss with 22 knockouts. The fight concluded with a split decision, with one judge scoring it 113-115 in favor of Joshua, while the other two judges scored it 115-113 and 116-112 for Usyk.
Usyk began the match confidently, establishing an early lead in the first half. However, the 8th and 9th rounds proved to be challenging for him as Joshua found his rhythm and landed significant punches, momentarily disrupting Usyk’s control. In the 10th round, Usyk regained his composure and maintained control of the fight until the final bell. As the match progressed, Joshua struggled to stay on his feet in the 12th round, realizing that only a lucky punch could save him. Usyk continued to be precise with his jabs, further solidifying his advantage.
In the 11th round, Joshua attempted to take the initiative by delivering powerful body shots and pressing Usyk against the ropes. Despite Joshua’s efforts, Usyk responded with accurate and frequent punches. The 10th round saw Usyk ramping up his offense, landing powerful blows and showcasing a strong combination. In the 9th round, Joshua became more aggressive, but he struggled to penetrate Usyk’s defense, indicating that he had more energy left for the closing rounds.
The 8th round marked a shift as Joshua pressed forward, landing several effective body shots that forced Usyk into clinches. Usyk appeared to be affected by fatigue, missing several punches during this round. In the 7th round, Joshua moved with more difficulty, while Usyk capitalized on counterattacks, successfully finding openings to strike Joshua in the face. The 6th round saw Joshua pinning Usyk against the ropes, delivering powerful blows, but Usyk managed to respond with a solid punch to the body at the end of the round.
In the 5th round, Joshua hesitated to advance, allowing Usyk to wait for openings and effectively break through Joshua’s defense. The 4th round featured Joshua attempting uppercuts, but Usyk skillfully evaded these attempts and landed more productive shots. The 3rd round had Usyk circling Joshua, though Joshua’s punches were more accurate. The 2nd round was fairly even, with both fighters exchanging blows without rushing forward. Finally, in the 1st round, both boxers started the fight cautiously, but Usyk ended the round with a solid right jab, and the first clinch was called off by the referee.
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