Usyk beats Joshua to retain heavyweight belts in emotional rematch
Sports Desk, Aug 20 (EFE).- Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defeated Briton Anthony Joshua in a rematch by a split points decision on Sunday in an emotional fight in Saudi Arabia.
With two votes in favor, by 115-113 and 116-112, and one against by 113-115, Usyk achieved his twentieth victory and clung onto his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organization, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization world heavyweight boxing belts.
The fight dubbed ‘Rage on the Red Sea’ at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah was a rematch of a London event that took place on September 25, where Usyk took the belts from Joshua in a unanimous decision.
As the judges announced the decision the rivals stood together holding the Ukraine flag, but Joshua, in an apparent rage, took two of Usyk’s belts and tossed them out of the ring.
He then walked back into the ring to address the crowd and said: “Usyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion.”
Usyk dedicated the victory to his country which is in the grips of bloody war after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an invasion in late February.
“I devote this victory to my family, my country, my team, to all the military defending this country – thank you so much,” the boxer said.
The Ukrainian added that he was certain that WBC champion Tyson Fury still had more fights in him after the two-time heavyweight world champion recently announced his retirement.
‘I want to fight Tyson Fury, if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury then I’m not fighting at all,’ Usyk added.
Fury still has until August 26 to decide whether he will relinquish the belt. EFE
gb/ch/eld
