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Oleksandr Usyk defeats Anthony Joshua 2 live: ‘Outrageous’ scorecard leaves world in disbelief

Ukrainian boxing legend Oleksandr Usyk is the unified heavyweight champion of the world but boxing’s big problem has reared its head again.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
4 min read
August 21, 2022 - 11:05AM
That was a brutal KO. Photo: Fox Sports
That was a brutal KO. Photo: Fox Sports

Ukrainian boxing legend Oleksandr Usyk has retained his unified heavyweight world title with a brilliant performance against Brit Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia.

Usyk puts his WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO against the man he won them off and put in a masterclass — or so most of the world believed.

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Despite most of the world seemingly giving Usyk the win, judge Glenn Feldman gave Joshua a 115-113 card, while the other two judges gave it 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk in a split decision.

Scorecard dramas have infuriated boxing world for years but it appeared to be a fairly clear result to most of the world.

Social media exploded after the result.

LA Daily News’ Gilbert Manzano tweeted: “Usyk with another sensational performance. So fast, so crafty. But can’t believe one judge gave it to Anthony Joshua. Oh, #boxing.”

Canadian Press sports editor Scott Brown wrote: “How was that a split decision?. Usyk dominated and outclassed AJ.”

Legendary boxing trainer Teddy Atlas posted: “Split decision???? Please take away that judge’s license, and never allow him near a score card again!!”

Boxing champ Terrence Crawford commented: “Yeah AJ know he lost”, followed by: “Wow split now that crazy”.

USA Today’s Brake Bentley added: “The judge who decided Joshua needs to go.”

Oleksandr Usyk has won again. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Oleksandr Usyk has won again. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion, shocked the world when he stepped up and outpointed Joshua to claim the titles.

The prize could be even bigger as Usyk will likely get a shot at Tyson Fury and his WBC title, where the victor would become the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four belt era.

In the early rounds, the pair felt each other out as the smaller Usyk worked much harder.

The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was the faster landing plenty of jabs.

In the fifth round, Joshua strayed below the belt, digging in under Usyk’s hip bone leaving the Ukrainian hobbling.

But it didn’t slow Usyk down as he went right back to work.

Joshua appeared to chase his opponent throughout the bout but Usyk’s work kept him out of trouble throughout.

Through eight, there were very few highlight moments.

But round nine changed everything.

Joshua had a massive round, bullying Usyk with some massive body shots taking their toll on the Brit.

Instead of continuing on, Usyk bounced back with a brutal tenth round which left Joshua on the ropes.

By round 12, Joshia needed a KO but wasn’t able to land the shot.

Joshua couldn’t land the telling blow. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Joshua couldn’t land the telling blow. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Usyk lands a jab. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Usyk lands a jab. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“I want to chank God for the help that he gave me today,” Usyk told the crowd at the 12,000-seat King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah.

“I give this victory to my country, to my family, to my team and to all the military who are defending the country.”

Main Card results

Oleksandr Usyk defeated Anthony Joshua via split decision (115-113, 116-112, 113-115) for the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles

Filip Hrgovic defeated Zhilei Zhang via unanimous decsion (115-112x2, 114-113)

Callum Smith defeated Mathieu Bauderlique via 4th round KO

Badou Jack defeated Richard Rivera via split decision (96-94, 94-96, 96-94)

Ziyad Almaayouf defeated Jose Alatorre via 1st round TKO

Ramla Ali defeated Crystal Garcia Nova via 1st round TKO

World split as heavyweights slug it out

Zhilei Zhang was furious. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Zhilei Zhang was furious. Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

Filip Hrgovic is now the mandatory for the IBF world heavyweight title after winning a razor thin unanimous decision over Zhilei Zhang as the co-main for the Usyk-Joshua fight.

But the scorecards have left a bad taste in plenty of people’s mouths after Zhang scored an early knockdown.

The commentators initially believed it was a pulldown but quickly came around to it being a fair enough call.

It was emblematic of the fight as it was a bizarre matchup with both looking for big shots but also being held back by slips and cuts throughout the fight.

Hrgovic looked to struggled to really get into the fight, but began tallying rounds.

As the scores were read out, boos echoed around the arena while Zhang screamed “I won”.

But the official Twitter account of promoters Kalle and Nisse Sauerland posted: “Hrgovic landed twice as many punches as Zhang. Conversation over….and send me a clip of the ‘knockdown’ from your best angle….on we roll.”

‘Monster’ folds rival in absolute brutality

That was a brutal KO. Photo: Fox Sports
That was a brutal KO. Photo: Fox Sports

Another Usyk-Joshua world title fight, another highlight Callum Smith KO.

After the Brit sent Lenin Castillo to hospital on the undercard of first clash between Usyk and Joshua, he left plenty of concern around his rival Mathieu Bauderlique.

The Frenchman was game but Smith ultimately had too much power at light heavyweight, unloading a monster left hand which folded his rival.

The fight was a world title eliminator for Artur Beterbiev’s WBC title, although the Russian WBC, IBF and WBO champion will still have to fight Brit Anthony Yarde first.

Smith, whose only loss was to Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight, is now 2-0 at light heavyweight and looks brilliant at the new weight.

Ramla Ali makes history in seconds

Ramla Ali makes history. Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP
Ramla Ali makes history. Photo by Giuseppe CACACE / AFP

Somali-born Briton Ramla Ali won the first professional women’s boxing match held in Saudi Arabia with a spectacular first-round knock-out of Crystal Garcia Nova on Saturday.

Just seconds into the fight, after already connecting with heavy shots to the head and body, Ali sent Nova’s gumshield flying with a fierce right that slammed into the Dominican fighter’s jaw.

“I feel like I need to go back and do some more pads. I didn’t really get out of first gear,” said the 32-year-old at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, adding: “It’s cool to get the stoppage.”

Ali, a former refugee from war in Somalia and fighting at super-bantamweight, now stands at 7-0 in her professional career as she moves towards an expected world title attempt.

Before the fight, she said she hoped to be an inspiration in Saudi Arabia as she led a boxing class in Jeddah for Saudi women and girls as young as 15.

With AFP

Originally published as Oleksandr Usyk defeats Anthony Joshua 2 live: ‘Outrageous’ scorecard leaves world in disbelief

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