Oleksandr Usyk ends Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight championship reign

LONDON — Oleksandr Usyk ended Anthony Joshua’s 2nd reign arsenic satellite heavyweight champion Saturday with a unanimous points triumph successful conscionable his 3rd combat since stepping up from the cruiserweight division.

Usyk became the 3rd man, aft Evander Holyfield and David Haye, to triumph satellite titles astatine cruiserweight past heavyweight. Six years aft Wladimir Klitschko’s agelong heavyweight reign ended, Ukraine has different champion successful boxing’s marquee division.

Joshua could not header with Usyk’s superior reflexes and punching power, particularly disconnected his left, and ended the combat slumped connected the ropes aft a flurry of accelerated punches by the mandatory challenger to his WBO belt.

Usyk besides took Joshua’s WBA and IBF titles. Joshua has a rematch clause successful the deal.

The judges scored the combat 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113, and Joshua appeared to judge the effect arsenic helium walked implicit to Usyk’s corner.

Usyk stepped up to heavyweight successful 2019 aft unifying each the cruiserweight belts, and present has 19 consecutive wins arsenic a professional.

His vigor levels were singular arsenic helium piled the punches connected Joshua successful a ascendant last round. The champion looked helpless successful the past seconds arsenic helium leant against the ropes and simply smiled.

As the last doorbell rang, Usyk dropped to his knees and looked to the London entity arsenic much than 62,000 spectators wrong Tottenham Hotspur Stadium appeared to gasp.

Usyk past entertained the assemblage with an acrobatic creation wrong the ring.

Joshua fell to the 2nd nonaccomplishment of his 25-fight pro career, aft a decision to Andy Ruiz Jr. successful New York that helium instantly avenged successful Saudi Arabia.