Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk LIVE REACTION: Hearn discusses REMATCH, AJ suffers eye socket injury – latest

JOSH IT ALL WRONG

Anthony Joshua has implied that he used the wrong tactics in his loss to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday.

Joshua admitted he should’ve gone into the fight against the Ukrainian with a different game plan after the brawl.

But upon reflection, the former heavyweight champion claims he will prepare differently for their rematch which will be phenomenal.

Speaking to iFL TV, the Brit said: “I let a few people down, obviously people that support me.

“There’s other people that probably thought I should have gone in with a different gameplan.

“There’s certain things I know I can improve on for sure and there’s certain things that he can probably improve on, that’s why I feel like the next fight will be phenomenal.”

OVER AND OUT

Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has no doubt who would’ve won if it was his fighter stepping into the ring against Anthony Joshua last night and Oleksandr Usyk.

In fact, Warren believes the fight wouldn’t have lasted more than four rounds.

“Tyson Fury would have destroyed him inside three or four rounds,” Warren told the MailOnline.

“Tyson has great footwork, a great chin and his hands are as fast as Usyk’s and he is bigger – he would have destroyed Joshua.”

HERE EU GO

Chris Eubank Jr is in line for a domestic blockbuster in December with Billy Joe Saunders and Liam Willaims among the targets, JACK FIGG reports.

But a super-fight with Gennady Golovkin, 39, is parked until the summer, with the Kazakh due to fight Japan’s Ryota Murata, 35, in a unification.

Middleweight Eubank Jr returns to the ring on Saturday and will do so as the new face of Sky Sports Boxing in a tune-up bout against Sven Elbir.

And promoter Kalle Sauerland promised a massive pay-per-view worthy fight will follow before the year’s out, should any slip ups be avoided.

Sauerland told SunSport: “Golovkin I can categorically rule out, Golovkin right now is obligated to fight Murata.

“That is an ongoing one, something we said we would re-visit when he’s had that fight. That’s going to be a big summer one for next year.

“We’re looking at domestic fights, Liam Williams is on that list, Billy Joe is on that list.”

‘HAVE A F****** GO’

Whyte went on to say on AJ: “It’s good he is using more athleticism and boxing responsibly but being a big strong guy is what has worked for him, got him an Olympic gold medal and world titles so he just needs to have a f****** go.

“He was not hungry enough because when the chips are down and sh!t is against you, you have to have a go. And he did not want to have a go.

“He never tried to finish him off when he hurt him, it was madness.”

‘F****** WEIRDO’

Dillian Whyte has labelled Anthony Joshua a ‘f****** weirdo’ for not being more aggressive during his unanimous defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

The Body snatcher told iFL TV: “I was surprised with how the fight went because I thought Joshua would get it done inside seven rounds because he would enforce his size and bulk on Usyk but he was very reserved and tentative, it was weird.

“Usyk was a lot more aggressive because Joshua allowed him to be, whenever Joshua stung him he stood in front of him and let his hands go and Joshua let him do it.

“Joshua was hurting him but backing up so it has baffled me a bit, it was a bizarre performance. Joshua is a strange guy, he’s a proper f****** weirdo, he should have been putting the heat on him.

“After eight rounds he should have felt like he was down on the cards and started really having a go, he’s the unified heavyweight champion of the world.

“He needs to throw his hands. Joshua’s mentality has to change, lately he is in a safety-first mode, he is fighting weird.”

‘SEE YOU SOON’

After defeating Anthony Joshua via unanimous decision on Saturday night, the Ukrainian returned AJ his belts after a dominant victory.

And after posing for photographs with his new WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles, Usyk returned them to AJ.

The new champion is awarded fresh set of belts, meaning former champ AJ is able to keep his old ones.

Then after handing Joshua his belts back, Usyk said: “See you soon,” with the pair set to do battle again in a rematch next year.

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

Anthony Joshua lost all of the final four rounds of the fight on all three judges’ scorecards last night.

But until then the scores were level on two scorecards at four rounds apiece, with Brit judge Howard Foster scoring the fight five rounds to three in favour of AJ.

And Hearn has said: “I was just looking at the scorecards then, he was winning the fight through eight rounds.

“Then he lost every round; nine, ten, eleven, twelve – on every scorecard. That was what swung the scorecards, but they are the championship rounds.

“That’s where Usyk came strong, that’s what he did where he did wear down his opponent – probably mentally as well.

“He won those key championship rounds.”

HERO’S WELCOME

Oleksandr Usyk was given a hero’s welcome as he arrived back home in Ukraine – where he will now settle down with his family.

Usyk, 34, was mobbed by fans and reporters as he stopped to give autographs as well as pose for pictures.

Despite the fanfare, the only thing on Usyk’s mind was getting home to his wife Yekaterina and three children, Kyrylo, Mykhailo and Yelizaveta.

He said: “I just want to live. I want to take my kids to school, I want to plant trees, water the apple trees and see my wife more often.

“I spent three months in training camp, I wish I could spend more time with my wife. I just want to live — I really don’t care what the critics say. There will always be people criticising. I know what I am doing.

“If I am running I don’t stop until I stop. If I’m swimming I’m not stopping until I nearly drown. I am working very hard so I really don’t care what people say or think about me.”

NOT THE TOUGHEST

Anthony Joshua insists Oleksandr Usyk wasn’t the toughest opponent of his career – despite having his heavyweight titles ripped away from him.

AJ was outboxed from the outset but is adamant slick southpaw Usyk wasn’t the hardest test of his amateur and professional careers.

When asked if he thought Ukrainian was the hardest fight of his career, Joshua replied: “No, no way.

“Because it wasn’t too much physical. But I lost anyway. So it wasn’t the toughest.”

STAT ATTACK

Punch stats from last night’s bout show Usyk was in control throughout the 12 rounds despite British judge Howard Foster scoring AJ ahead after eight rounds.

But it was Usyk who landed more punches, bigger punches, and it was the Ukrainian who was more efficient with his shots.

He could have floored AJ in the 12th with a barrage of shots, landing a total of 29 punches in the final round – the most the Brit has ever faced in a single round.

Despite the reach disadvantage, Usyk was more effective with his jab, landing 52 out of the 309 he threw – or 17 per cent.

Joshua landed the same number but had over a hundred more attempts than his opponent with 427.

But AJ threw less power punches – 214 compared to Usyk’s 220 – and landed just 71 to the Ukrainian’s 96.

ELSEWHERE IN BOXING

Anderson Silva wants to fight Floyd Mayweather and ‘break all pay-per-view records’, his coach said.

The Brazilian was last year released from the UFC and decided to instead continue his career in the ring, beating ex-boxing champion Julio Cesar Chavez and fellow MMA legend Tito Ortiz.

But now the UFC middleweight icon wants to jump to the top of the sport and challenge one of boxing’s best ever, 50-0 Mayweather.

Silva’s trainer Luiz Dorea told AG Fight: “I think the one fight that should happen was between Floyd Mayweather and Anderson Silva.

“One of the greatest boxing athletes against one of the greatest MMA in the world.

“Floyd faced Logan Paul, who doesn’t have that much experience in boxing, in an exhibition match. I think I could have a deal.

“These fights against YouTubers can happen too, because Anderson wants something that motivates him. We will have good news soon.”

BISPING SPEAKS

UFC legend Michael Bisping has had his say after Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

In a unanimous decision in favour of Usyk Brit judge Howard Foster scored the fight 115-113 – the closest out of the three scorecards.

And unlike the other two judges he scored the first two rounds in favour of AJ, which Bisping did not take well.

“He should be held accountable for this,” he retorted.

“Explain why he scored it that way to his peers. [If there is] no understandable reason then he should never judge again.”

FURY REACTION

Tyson Fury’s promoter Frank Warren has revealed how The Gypsy King reacted to Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Oleksadr Usyk on Saturday night.

“He [Joshua] just wasn’t doing what you’d think a bigger guy would do,” Warren said on talkSPORT Fight Night.

“I spoke to Tyson during the fight and we were both of the same opinion.

“All Tyson could see was a massive big fight going down the drain, which is what happened.”

‘FIRED UP’

Chris Eubank Jr is determined to come out on top of his middleweight bout against Sven Elbir on Saturday after seeing his ‘good friend’ Anthony Joshua lose.

He told Sky Sports: “I’m fired up.

“Obviously Anthony Joshua is a friend of mine. I’m a little deflated that he lost, but it’s part of the game. We’ve all been there.

“If anything, this makes me want to fight even harder. I know the feelings he’s going through now.

“The first thing you want to do is get back in the ring and win. We’re going to put on a hell of a show.”

PICKING KIEV

Oleksandr Usyk wants his lucrative rematch with Anthony Joshua to take place in front of a packed crowd at Ukraine’s 70,000 seater Olympic Stadium.

Joshua, 31, is set to exercise the rematch clause placed in his contract to face the Ukrainian, who is hoping to make his first title defence on home soil.

The 34-year-old said: “I would love to have the rematch at Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn, however, believes the second instalment of Usyk vs Joshua will likely take place in UK again.

The Matchroom Boxing chief said: “We will work together to maximise (the income), Ukraine is very unlikely.

“I think it will be international or the UK, I would think it would be in the UK.”

NOT HIS TOUGHEST FIGHT

Oleksandr Usyk reckons his 12-round heavyweight world title win over Anthony Joshua was not even his hardest fight.

The eccentric said: “The plan was just to walk in, see, start, so we went in, saw and started.

“In the 12th my corner said ‘speed up’ so I did and then they said ‘and the new’.

“I tried to speed up and punched him a couple of times but I was losing my rhythm and my corner told me to slow down and throw my jab more because if I did not keep throwing my jab I would lose my rhythm.

“This is the biggest fight in my career but it was not my hardest. I think that is in my future.”

ELSEWHERE IN BOXING

Logan Paul has claimed he would’ve knocked out Floyd Mayweather if their showdown was a 12-rounder.

The YouTuber turned boxer locked horns with the five-weight world champion in an exhibition match in Miami in June – going the full eight rounds with the Money Man.

But Paul, 26, believes he would’ve had handed Mayweather his first stoppage loss if they shared the ring for a few more rounds.

The elder Paul brother told the True Geordie, he said: “My conditioning is f***ing good, bro.

“If the fight went 10 or 12 rounds, I think I would knock him out. I say that in full conviction.”

RIGHT RESULT

But AJ’s trainer Rob McCracken has insisted Joshua has got what it takes to overcome Oleksandr Usyk in the rematch.

“There is no drawing board to go back to, you’ve got to apply pressure with your jab and your right hand and you’ve got to keep him off balance,” McCracken said.

“And you’ve got to put shots together when you get there.

“Usyk is a good boxer and Anthony is still learning on the job and if he applies himself he will get the right result in the rematch.”

TALL ORDER

British boxing great Carl Froch has revealed Anthony Joshua needs a serious change of tactics if he has any hope of winning his belts back in a rematch against Oleksandr Usyk.

He said: “What a fighter Usyk is, I have to say I don’t fancy AJ in the rematch, he has to seriously change his tactics and his game plan and get rough early.

“Apparently he has said he wants the rematch straight away but I think he needs to sleep on it and look over at what he did wrong and what he can improve on.”

“I didn’t think AJ would lose like that, I never saw it coming that way because the ending was a bit of a beating.

“I am sure Joshua can come again but it depends how much he wants it because he has achieved so much and done so well.

“I do think Anthony Joshua can win the rematch, he does have the physicality, but he needs different tactics and game plan, he needs to implement his size and stature a lot more and a lot earlier.”

FINISH HIM

Oleksander Usyk revealed his reasons for not knocking out Anthony Joshua.

The Ukrainian landed some hefty punches, but didn’t want to upset his own rhythm, even when he had AJ on the back foot by going in for the kill.

In the end, Usyk won the fight by unanimous decision.

And that was a tactical move on his part.

“I had no objective to knock him out because my trainer, in my corner, pushed me not to do that,” Usyk revealed.

“In the beginning I hit him hard and tried to knock him out. But then my trainer said: ‘Just stop, and do your job’.”

SOUND AS A POUND

Eddie Hearn believes Oleksandr Usyk is behind only Canelo Alvarez in boxing’s pound-for-pound list.

Hearn watched as Usyk outsmarted his boxer Anthony Joshua to become the new unified heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian became only the third man, behind Evander Holyfield and David Haye, to win titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.

Usyk, 34, previously reigned as undisputed before he moved up and added further to his credentials.

Asked where he ranks in the mythical list, Hearn said: “Two, after Canelo.

“I mean, when he was at cruiserweight, everyone called him a top five pound-for-pound.

“But then when he went to heavyweight, he went off everyone’s radar. After that win, he has to be on everyone’s top pound-for-pound.”

BORN IN THE UKRAINE

Oleksandr Usyk’s moment of glory was celebrated by his fellow Ukrainian, Andrey Yarmolenko.

The West Ham striker paid a visit to the boxer’s dressing after the fight to congratulate him.

And the pair happily posed for the snap below to commemorate the night.

‘LEARN FROM THIS’

Lennox Lewis criticised Anthony Joshua for being ‘so tentative’ in his loss to Oleksandr Usyk but said: ‘Learn from this and improve’.

AJ decided against using his brute force and imposing frame and opted to try and outbox slick southpaw Usyk.

But it proved the wrong tactic as Joshua was comfortably bettered over the 12 round distance, surrendering his heavyweight titles.

British legend Lewis – who has been embroiled in a feud with AJ in the past – vented frustration at his fellow Olympic gold medalist.

He tweeted: “Gotta give it up to @usykaa on a great tactical performance tonight.

“For @anthonyjoshua it’s not the end of the road, but u (sic) can’t be so tentative or wait till the 8th round to turn it on.

“Learn from this and improve.”

‘HE’LL BE BACK;

Jake Paul backed Anthony Joshua to ‘rise again as great champions do’ but was left stunned by Oleksandr Usyk’s win.

Paul, 24, recorded his reaction as Joshua, 31, barely survived the final round before going on to surrender his belts on points.

Despite his shock, the social media sensation, who is unbeaten in four fights, was full of encouragement for former champion AJ.

He tweeted: “@usykaa showed us a beautiful boxing performance… hats off…

“@anthonyjoshua has been here before and he will rise again as great champions do.

“Damn I’m shook I wanted Joshua to win.”

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

David Haye says Anthony Joshua can beat Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch, if he makes use of his ‘physical attributes’.

Haye reckons AJ could turn the tables next time if he changes tactics – and adopts a more ruthless approach opposed to the sweet science.

He told iFL TV: “Anthony Joshua has a chance to reclaim his titles, it’s going to be a mega, mega match. A fight that I believe AJ can win.

“Looking at this fight you would say no, but he has what it takes. But he needs to change a lot of fundamental things in his game.

“Just rewatch the fight with Dereck Chisora. Chisora brought a gameplan to the table.

“He doesn’t have the physical attributes of Anthony Joshua but was able to win significantly more of the rounds in a very, very close fight.

‘So if Anthony Joshua uses his physical attributes in the fight – it’s no good looking at them in the mirror, they’ve got to be implemented in the fight.

“If they can be forced on Usyk, he can reclaim the titles.

“But if he tries to have a boxing match, or does anything remotely close to what he was doing on Saturday night, it will be the same again.”