Anthony Joshua and Kamaru Usman have both suffered defeats in their bid to defend titles in boxing and the UFC respectively.
Joshua’s bid to recapture the unified heavyweight titles ended in disappointment as Oleksandr Usyk produced a terrific performance to win by split decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In a clash billed as the Rage on the Red Sea, a spirited Joshua, 32, showed some aggressiveness and intent – a vast improvement from their first fight – but could not match the brilliance and ring savviness of the Ukrainian.
Two judges scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk, while a third judge gave it 115-113 to the challenger. While there were some close rounds, Usyk was the deserved winner.
At the end of the fight, a furious Joshua – quite bizarrely – picked up two of Usyk’s belts, dropped them on the floor and strode towards the dressing room, before turning round and getting back into the ring to give an impassioned speech.
Joshua has now suffered back-to-back defeats against Usyk, with the Ukrainian retaining the WBA (Super), WBO and IBF titles he won in London last September.
Meanwhile, Leon Edwards became Britain’s second ever UFC champion after he defeated Nigerian Kamaru Usman at the UFC 278 main event at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, USA on Sunday morning.
Seven years ago, Usman outpointed Edwards as part of what became a 19-fight win streak for the ‘Nigerian Nightmare’, earning him the title of UFC’s pound-for-pound king.
Edwards also came into this on an undefeated streak, winning nine bouts in a row, while patiently waiting for his first title shot.
The Jamaica-born Briton, has now avenged his loss to Usman in 2015.
