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      Jake Paul backs Anthony Joshua to ‘rise again as great champions do’ and reveals stunned reaction to Oleksandr Usyk win

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      JAKE PAUL backed Anthony Joshua to ‘rise again as great champions do’ but was left stunned by Oleksandr Usyk’s win. The YouTube star watched on in disbelief as Usyk put on a 12-round masterclass to dethrone Britain’s AJ.
      Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua over 12 rounds in electric styleCredit: Getty
      Jake Paul backed Anthony Joshua to ‘rise again as great champions do’
      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.”
      Joshua, who is set to exercise his right to an immediate rematch with Usyk, has also been a supporter of Paul’s boxing career.

      The American recently beat ex-UFC champion Tyron Woodley, 39, in his biggest win to date.
      It followed knockouts of online rival ‘AnEsonGib’, ex-NBA star Nate Robinson and retired UFC welterweight Ben Askren, both 37.
      His splash onto the boxing scene has not convinced everybody, but AJ was among those to credit Paul.
      Joshua told iFL TV: “Great for boxing. He’s trying, zero amateur experience, throwing himself in the deep end.
      “He’ll probably learn a lot more than a lot of fighters, throwing himself in the deep end, putting himself under pressure. Good luck to him.”
      Anthony Joshua calls Jake Paul great for boxing after throwing himself in the deep end More

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      Anthony Joshua backed to beat Oleksandr Usyk in rematch by David Haye but has to use his ‘physical attributes’

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      DAVID HAYE says Anthony Joshua can beat Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch, if he makes use of his ‘physical attributes’.Usyk became only the third man, behind Haye and Evander Holyfield, to win titles at cruiserweight and then heavyweight.
      Anthony Joshua in his defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      David Haye backed Anthony Joshua to beat Usyk in a rematchCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      He brilliantly outboxed AJ over 12 rounds and was crowned as the unified world champion.
      Joshua has already confirmed plans to exercise his rematch clause despite the one-sided and convincing loss.
      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.”
      Joshua, 31, confused many ringside as he selected to try and outbox the brilliantly talented Usyk, 34, who was giving away over a stone.
      And Dillian Whyte, who was beaten by AJ in 2015, called for his old rival to get back to his most brutal best.
      Whyte, 33, said: “Lately he’s gone into this sort of safety-first [approach]. He’s just fighting weird, man.
      “You’re a f***ing big strong guy, that’s what’s worked for you, that’s what got you to the Olympic gold medal, that’s what got you to your first world title, that’s what got you to the unified world title.
      “So he should have just been f***ing having a go.”
      Anthony Joshua talks about eye injury that he sustained in fight with Usyk More

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      Roy Jones Jr wants Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk kept apart ‘by any means necessary’ as he fears unentertaining bout

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      BOXING legend Roy Jones Jr wants Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk to be kept apart ‘by any means necessary’ – as he fears a borefest. Jones was ringside as an analyst to watch Usyk put on a 12 round masterclass against Anthony Joshua.
      Oleksandr Usyk became heavyweight champion on the world after beating Anthony JoshuaCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Tyson Fury pictured with the unified titles in 2015Credit: Getty
      It has put hopes of a Battle of Britain between Joshua, 31, and Fury, 33, to bed for the moment.
      Now Usyk, 34, will fancy adding Fury’s WBC belt to his collection of shiny new WBA, IBF and WBO straps.
      But one man not so keen on the idea is American icon Jones, who predicts an uneventful chess match between the two masterful champions.
      He told DAZN: “I hope it don’t happen. Two boxers don’t make for the most entertaining fight.
      “We gotta keep Usyk and Fury away from each other by any means necessary. We do not want to see that.
      “There should be a clause right now put into any contract: ‘Do not allow Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury to have a fight.’
      “We do not need that for boxing.”
      Roy Jones Jr at Anthony Joshua’s fight with Oleksandr UsykCredit: @royjonesjrofficial

      Joshua has a rematch clause in the contract, much like he did in defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr, 32, in June 2019.
      He has confirmed plans to exercise it as soon as possible and has the backing of Jones, who won titles from middleweight all the way to heavyweight.

      He added: “This was an excellent fight tonight. This is what boxing needs. We don’t need the other fights we’ve been getting.
      “We need these kind of real fights. I would say, we hope Joshua takes the rematch. This was an awesome fight.
      “We’d love to see an awesome fight like this again. That’d be better for us. We don’t want to see Usyk-Fury. We’ll see anybody else!”
      Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua must trigger Usyk rematch clause More

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      Oleksandr Usyk claims Anthony Joshua wasn’t even his hardest fight in damning verdict of Brit after classy win

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      OLEKSANDR USYK reckons his 12-round heavyweight world title win over Anthony Joshua was not even his hardest fight.The 34-year-old Ukraine southpaw had his first 16 pro fights at the 14st 4lbs cruiserweight limit, winning all four belts to become undisputed king.
      Oleksandr Usyk dismantled Anthony Joshua to rip away his world heavyweight titlesCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      There was plenty of respect between them in the dressing room afterwardsCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Joshua, 31, was the 17st defending WBA, IBF and WBO boss – boxing in front of around 60,000 home fans just a few miles from his Watford home.
      Yet the moustached superstar claimed he never even hit top gear to try to land the stoppage and hinted he had tougher tests before and will have bigger ones in the future.
      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.”
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      Usyk now has three of the major world titles, with Tyson Fury defending his WBC strap against Deontay Wilder on October 9.
      But he has vowed to honour the rematch clause in their contract and hand AJ a shot at redemption, with no chance of a deviation from that big-money plan even if he gets a direct message from Las Vegas in a couple of weeks.
      Usyk added: “I really love challenges but we have a rematch clause in the contract with Anthony Joshua and we will honour that.
      “I love challenges but it does not matter if anybody calls me out, although I love the challenge when people do call me out.
      “Anthony Joshua is our next opponent in our minds.”
      The Ukraine sensation would love to have the rematch in his country’s national stadium.
      London is a really lucky city for meOleksandr Usyk
      But it is far more likely to happen back in the UK or in Saudi Arabia where the time difference would keep it on British primetime TV.
      But maybe Watford’s AJ should swerve a return to the capital as fellow London 2012 Olympic winner Usyk reckons it’s a special place for him.
      He said: “Joshua is a true warrior and fighter and he will improve his skills.
      “I can’t really for sure say if he will or won’t take the rematch, but I think he probably will.
      “I would love to have the rematch in the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev.
      “But London is a really lucky city for me.”
      Usyk bossed the fight and almost stopped his opponent in the 12th roundCredit: Getty
      Joshua is expected to exercise the rematch clause to try and get the belts backCredit: Getty
      Anthony Joshua discusses losing to Oleksandr Usyk in post-fight press conference More

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      Anthony Joshua’s corner under scrutiny following Usyk defeat as trainer claims ‘no need to go back to drawing board’

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      ANTHONY JOSHUA’S corner is under intense scrutiny after the Brit hero’s heartbreaking loss to Oleksandr Usyk.Almost every AJ-supporting fighter and pundit urged the 31-year-old Watford ace to steam into the former cruiserweight and dominate him with all his physical advantages.
      Rob McCracken insists Anthony Joshua does NOT need to go back to the drawing boardCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Heavyweight boxing has a new unified champ in UsykCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      But AJ – who only picked up a pair of gloves in 2007, a few months Usyk competed at his first of two Olympics – admitted he tried to outbox the supremely gifted 34-year-old southpaw.
      Team GB mastermind Rob McCracken seemed to admit his star student ignored his instructions.
      But, during the televised intervals, he never seemed close to explaining the urgency of the situation or demanding AJ go for a titles-saving late knockout.
      McCracken said afterwards: “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.
      “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.”

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      After the June 2019 loss to Andy Ruiz Jr, Joshua added two new coaches to his corner in Angel Fernandez and Joby Clayton, and they undoubtedly helped him get the rematch win.
      But TV viewers were baffled by some of the cheerleading Clayton was doing in the corner when AJ needed some cold hard facts.
      And even between the final two championship rounds there seemed to be no much-needed orders for a last-ditch KO charge.
      One Twitter follower recognised Clayton’s Wolverhampton accent going OTT with praise for Joshua’s efforts, writing: “All the people hammering McCracken for saying ‘brilliant AJ’ throughout the fight when actually it was Joby Clayton!”

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk LIVE: Follow all the post-fight reaction

      Anthony Joshua discusses losing to Oleksandr Usyk in post-fight press conference More

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      Oleksandr Usyk breaks down in tears as he celebrates shock Anthony Joshua win and is congratulated by Ukrainian PM

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      OLEKSANDR USYK broke down in tears after being announced the winner against Anthony Joshua – and was later congratulated by his Prime Minister. The Ukrainian put on a masterclass to convincingly dethrone AJ of the unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
      Anthony Joshua in defeat to Oleksandr UsykCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Many feared ringside of a robbery but breathed a sigh of relief as the unanimous decision was rightfully awarded Usyk’s way.
      And it appeared the weight of the world was lifted off the super southpaw when he was confirmed as the new champion.
      Usyk was in tears while Joshua rushed out of the ring to seek medical assistance after the gruelling 12 rounds.
      Ukrainian PM Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted: “Ukraine returns its WBA, IBF, IBO, and WBO championship titles – again, as it should be, belong to the Ukrainian!
      “Thank you! Well done, Champion!”
      Joshua, 31, has a rematch clause in the contract, much like he did in defeat to Andy Ruiz Jr, 32, in June 2019.

      He avenged defeat six months later and has already confirmed he will try and repeat history by enacting his shot at redemption against Usyk, 34.
      Asked if he would exercise the rematch clause, Joshua replied: “One hundred per cent. I’m ready to get back to training.
      “Because of the 12 rounds, my lungs and everything, it was a good 12-rounder, so I’ll be in a good place when I get back into training to pick up where we left off.”
      Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Ultimately if he doesn’t accept the rematch clause, he will not get a chance to win his world championships back… possibly ever the way this game works.
      And that was the same with Ruiz. To be honest, I would have actually probably advised him not to take the Ruiz match after that kind of defeat.
      “I know he was out-boxed tonight but against Ruiz he went down four or five times and he was stopped quite badly in that fight.
      “Tonight he was out-boxed and started to get a little bit beat up towards the end – but there were a number of reasons for that.
      “But I don’t see another option. He’s not going to want to go and have a ten-rounder at the O2. He’s going to want to try and win his belts back.
      “And he should be commended for it. And this time as an underdog in that rematch.”
      Anthony Joshua says he thinks he was winning until the ninth round in fight against Usyk More

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      Carl Froch tells Anthony Joshua to forget about Usyk rematch unless he rips up gameplan and goes back to being bully

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      CARL FROCH has told Anthony Joshua to forget about an Oleksandr Usyk rematch unless he rips up his gameplan and returns to being a bully.Despite his height, reach and 19lbs weight advantage AJ, 31, failed to impose himself on the 34-year-old former cruiserweight.
      Joshua was bullied around the ring by Usyk on a sensational night for the Ukrainian
      Former boxing world champ Carl Froch believes Anthony Joshua needs a whole new gameplan to beat Oleksandr UsykCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      The Watford ace surrendered his WBA, IBF and WBO titles to the Ukraine master, without even going hell-for-leather in the final few rounds when he must have sensed it was slipping away.
      An instant rematch is being targeted for February but Froch – who had his brilliant super-middleweight world title career guided by AJ mentor Rob McCracken – needs to see a totally new approach or a devastatingly similar result..
      “I thought AJ would get going and impose his advantages more,” he said
      “The bigger size and reach and 19lbs.
      “If you want to beat a top boxer you don’t box him, you fight him, don’t play them at their own game because then you give them all the advantages.
      “AJ did that, he tried to box with Usyk and he is too good. I would have liked a stronger start from AJ but Usyk is a magician.

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      “He can start quicker and stronger in the rematch and get rough but the way Usyk finished the fight worries me because he could have relaxed and instead he took him on and tried to finish him.
      “That told me he did to show him what could be coming in the rematch
      “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 gameplan 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.”
      Ice-cool Usyk claims he and his corner never even hit top gear to land the stoppage, preferring to put on a Tottenham clinic.

      🥊 Joshua vs Usyk LIVE: Follow all the post-fight reaction

      But in the final few seconds of the 12th round he definitely fancied a KO and pummelled AJ once he was pinned to the ropes.
      Now the multimillionaire needs to assess if he really still has the desire to go to the well and overcome this boogieman.
      Froch added: “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 gameplan, he needs to implement his size and stature a lot more and a lot earlier.”
      Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk round by round More

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      Fearless Dillian Whyte slams Oleksandr Usyk for failing to KO Anthony Joshua and vows to ‘GO TO WAR’ with Ukrainian

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      DILLIAN WHYTE cannot believe ‘f****** weirdo’ Anthony Joshua didn’t throw the kitchen sink at Oleksandr Usyk.The 33-year-old beat AJ in the amateurs and lost to him in a 2015 pro fight, but he backed the 31-year-old to be too big and strong for the former cruiserweight on Saturday – as long as he dominated him early.
      Whyte was outspoken in his criticism of Joshua’s approach to the fight after losing his titles to UsykCredit: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
      Whyte was quick to play down Usyk’s victory with criticism that he didn’t KO JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But Joshua admitted after the unanimous points loss that he tried to outbox the southpaw genius.
      Whyte claims that is why he came completely unstuck, despite the 19lbs muscle advantage.
      The Body Snatcher told IFL: “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.”

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      AJ has demanded an instant rematch that promoter Eddie Hearn reckons could happen as early as February.
      But Whyte has warned him to quit trying to be a boxing technician and return to his big, bad bullying ways.
      “He needs to throw his hands,” he said.
      “Joshua’s mentality has to change, lately he is in a safety-first mode, he is fighting weird.
      “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 s*** 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.”
      Speaking to Behind the Gloves after the fight, Whyte said: “I don’t give a f*** about Usyk. I never feared him. What did he do? He didn’t knock out Joshua, he just outboxed him.
      “I’ll go to war with him, I don’t give a f*** about all of that.
      “He [Joshua] doesn’t even seem hungry anymore. Maybe he’s lost the dog in him. It happens sometimes.”
      Whyte offered his congratulations to Usyk after the fight but called Joshua ‘gun shy’Credit: Getty
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      Oleksandr Usyk says he would fight Anthony Joshua again, even in space More