Boxing, sensational in London: Usyk dethrones Joshua, he is the king of the highs

In front of 62,000 spectators, the Ukrainian accomplishes the feat by beating the British king on points with a unanimous verdict: and everything reopens in the most prestigious category

Resounding in London: Anthony Joshua, 31 years old, British, world champion of the WBA, Ibf and Wbo maximums, record 24 wins (22 ko-1 defeat), weight 109 kg, loses to Oleksandr Usyk, 34 years old, Ukrainian, challenger, record 18-0, weight 100 kg. A defeat on points with a unanimous verdict (117-112, 116-112, 115-113) that perhaps no one on the eve could have imagined: Joshua thought of this match as a test in view of the real challenge he wanted to play against Tyson Fury , in the English derby. And instead every plan has been skipped thanks to Usyk, who brings back to Ukraine the most prestigious title in boxing: that of the maximums. Usyk had won the light heavyweight title but is now proving to be the strongest. He blew the bank in the champion’s house. Incredibly.

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Atmosphere

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There are 62,000 spectators in the Tottenham stadium, cheering on ringside for the challenger in an all-British atmosphere, very football; the Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko is also cheering. Usyk starts well, very active, dynamic. Only in the second round a right to the body shows the class of a Joshua with slower movements, as if he does not want to immediately take the initiative to let his rival vent, who in fact in the 3rd time staggers with a left to the jaw. The keeper struggles to get into the opponent’s guard, surprised above all by the Ukrainian’s courage to engage in battle. In the heart of the match that flows balanced, the best Joshua is still sought, whose right hand is still used too sparingly. On the sixth, however, Anthony explodes first a straight right and then a tremendous right hook that earned him the recovery. But at 7th the unbeaten Ukrainian throws a jab, a left and a straight right almost in sequence, which make the champion falter, who returns to difficulty and loses the second half. Upon returning to the center of the square, Joshua tries to react with his composite rhythm, also finds an uppercut to the body and wins the second half against an opponent who really does not feel any complex. The two were Olympic champions in London 2012 in the maximum and super-maximum (Usyk with Clemente Russo and Joshua against Roberto Cammarelle): the Ukrainian touches and stings the British in the final of the ninth round, confirming a balance that alternates between a recovery and the ‘other. The 10th round sees Joshua more precise and decisive, but he also collects. In the penultimate round, Usyk is still appreciated for his resourcefulness and precision in his shots. AJ can’t find the right shot, unlike his rival, who restarts in the last round with a poking left hook. And in the final he puts AJ on the ropes. A perfect Usyk: author of the match of life. The challenger kneels in the center of the ring, awaiting the verdict. Unanimous. He is the champion!

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Too bad Prodan

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In the world evening at the Tottenham stadium there was also the international Ibf welterweight title between the holder Maxim Prodan, Ukrainian from Italy (19) and the Albanian Florian Marku (8) on 10 rounds. A very questionable verdict on points, for split decision, interrupts Prodan’s unbeaten after a balanced match, in which the best things in the ring had been expressed by Prodan as in the 6th round: the Albanian southpaw Florian Marku (9-0) wins at the points with this verdict (99-91, 96-94 and 97-93 by the others) for the challenger.

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