Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk defends heavyweight titles

KING ABDULLAH SPORTS CITY, Saudi Arabia –

Oleksandr Usyk kissed the blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine and regarded to the Saudi Arabian sky as he waited to find if he had honoured his war-torn nation by retaining his world heavyweight titles.

When he heard the profitable phrases “and nonetheless,” an emotional Usyk raised his left arm and pulled the flag over his face.

Six months in the past, he was patrolling the streets of Kyiv with an computerized rifle and defending Ukraine from the invading Russians.

Right here, contained in the ring at King Abdullah Sport Metropolis area, the still-undefeated Usyk had lived as much as his billing because the sporting delight of Ukraine by beating Anthony Joshua in a carefully fought rematch on Saturday to maintain his WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

“I commit this victory to my nation, to my household, to my workforce, to all of the army defending this nation,” the 35-year-old Usyk mentioned by way of a translator. “Thanks very, very a lot.”

After a gruelling five-month coaching camp, Usyk entered the world in a blue-and-yellow high carrying the phrases “Colours of Freedom” and supported by phrases of encouragement from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his nightly video handle to the nation.

“We stick collectively,” the president mentioned. “We assist one another. We restore what was destroyed. We battle for all our individuals. And we cheer for individuals who symbolize Ukraine, at present — undoubtedly for Usyk, our man!”

And Usyk began because the favorite after outclassing Joshua within the first battle in London in September final yr.

Nonetheless, the British challenger, a former two-time champion, got here into the rematch with a brand new sport plan from his new coach Robert Garcia: Assault Usyk’s physique and preserve the strain on.

And it almost labored, with Usyk taken to the restrict within the ninth spherical as he was chased across the ring by Joshua, who landed combos and focused Usyk’s ribs.

Usyk took a deep breath on the bell, then got here out onerous within the tenth spherical, hurting Joshua with an early proper hook and forcing him onto the ropes for the primary time within the battle.

The battering of Joshua was sustained within the eleventh whereas the twelfth was evenly fought, the battle ending with each fighters — clearly exhausted — falling to their knees in entrance of one another on the canvas.

They embraced and Joshua appeared to supply his assist to the plight of Ukraine.

Then, in an expletive-laden speech contained in the ring after grabbing the microphone, Joshua — who moments earlier was seen selecting up two of Usyk’s belts and throwing them to the canvas — hit again at his critics earlier than praising Usyk for preventing so properly within the circumstances.

“I used to be finding out Ukraine and all of the champions out of your superb nation,” Joshua mentioned. “I’ve by no means been there. What’s taking place there, I do not know nevertheless it’s not good. For Usyk to be champion, underneath these circumstances, please elevate your arms.”

Usyk was complimentary about Joshua, too.

“That is already historical past,” he mentioned. “Many generations are going to observe this battle, particularly the spherical when somebody tried to beat me onerous. However I stood as much as it and turned it differently.”

Usyk additionally claimed the Ring Journal belt with the win. There’s just one heavyweight title that Usyk would not personal — the WBC one that’s about to be vacated by Tyson Fury, who says he’s retired.

When requested about Fury, Usyk mentioned: “I’m positive Tyson Fury shouldn’t be retired but. I’m positive Tyson Fury needs to battle me. If I am not preventing Tyson Fury, I am not preventing in any respect.”

Two judges gave it to Usyk, one 115-113 and the opposite 116-112. The opposite gave the battle to Joshua, 115-113.

Joshua, a two-time heavyweight champion, fell to his third loss in 27 fights and his profession is at a crossroads.

The place Usyk goes from now seems to rely upon Fury.

Saudi state tv printed images displaying Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attending the battle. The 36-year-old son of King Salman, the crown prince has pushed for sporting occasions to come back to the dominion whilst U.S. intelligence companies consider he ordered the beheading and dismemberment of Washington Publish columnist Jamal Khashoggi.