CHAMP Oleksandr Usyk reacts to Anthony Joshua’s post-fight anger and advises heavyweight rival not to clash with members of his team because they are ‘horrible street fighters’
Oleksandr Usyk offered Anthony Joshua some friendly advice that clashing with his team is not a good idea.
AJ was angry in the ring in the aftermath of his defeat to Usyk on Saturday night, but boxing’s heavyweight champion insisted he’s not taking any outburst from his rival personally.
The fight itself began with a few tentative opening rounds as the Ukrainian applied his typical elusive movement and landed a couple of straight lefts while Joshua fired off right hands to the body.
After round nine, it seemed close as AJ opened up and fired away at Usyk, seeming to genuinely trouble him for the first time in either of their fights.
However, the Ukrainian responded brilliantly with a dominant tenth which saw him on his way to victory.
He also appeared to win the final two, cementing the second consecutive triumph.
One judge scored it115-113 for Joshua, but the other two had it 115-113 and 116-112 for Usyk, crowning him the winner by split decision.
Joshuareacted
furiously, first taking two of Usyk’s belts and throwing them out of the ring.
He then engaged in angry exchanges with members of his opponent’s team before storming from the ring.
Joshua soon returned to give a passionate speech with which some argued he stole Usyk’s moment.
At his post-fight press conference, Usyk was asked about the bizarre sequence of events.
“I feel nothing but respect to AJ,” he said.
“I saw him a bit emotional and like bullying some of my teammates.
“That would be a bare-knuckle fight that I don’t recommend him to do because most of them are horrible street fighters.”
Tyson Fury, who comes from a family of fighters, looks like he is next for Usyk, with the two fighting for all the heavyweight titles.
Currently Fury owns the WBC belt and said he is open to an undisputed clash if the money is right.
And Usyk only wants him it seems, saying after his latest win: “If I’m not fighting Fury, I’m not fighting at all.”
And Fury appeared to confirm after the fight that he would return from retirement and take on Usyk.
