Usyk retains world heavyweight titles, defeats Joshua on split decision

Oleksandr Usyk is still the world heavyweight champion. The Ukranian won after 12 close rounds, on a split decision over Anthony Joshua. Ringside judges Victor Fesechko (116-112) and Steve Gray (115-113) scored it for Usyk, while Glenn Feldman (115-113) had it for Joshua.
Disappointed and furious by the final decision, Joshua yelled as Usyk ‘You’re not powerful, how did you beat me?’ He however calmed down and later paid glowing tributes to Usyk.
“If you knew my story, you’d understand the passion. I’m not an amateur boxer. I was going to jail and I got bail and I started training. If I got sentenced, I wanted to be able to fight.
“It shows the passion we put into this. For this guy to beat me tonight, it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in so please give him a round of applause as heavyweight champion of world.
“They said that I’m not a 12-round fighter. I ain’t 14 stone, I’m 18 stone, I’m heavy. It’s hard work. This guy here is phenomenal.”
Speaking to Usyk directly: “I was studying Ukraine and all the champions from your amazing country. I’ve never been there. What’s happening there, I don’t know but it’s not nice. For Usyk to be champion, under those circumstances, please raise your hands.”
Excited Usyk after beating Anthony Joshua attributed his victory to divine help by God and support of his family and country men. “I want to thank everyone who prayed for me. I want to thank God for the help he gave me today because he did give me a lot today. My lord is Jesus Christ. I can thank you Saudi. Thank you so much.
“I devote this victory to my family, my country, my team, to all the military defending this country. Thank you so much.
“This is already history. Many generations are going to watch this fight especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard but I stood it and came back.”
On whether he will fight Tyson Fury to unify the titles: “I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet. I’m convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. If I’m not fighting Fury I’m not fighting at all.
“Only God knows whether I will fight him or not but all these gentlemen here around me, my team, they are going to help me. “Thanks Lord for everything.”