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Anthony Joshua Delivers 4 Word Message To Usyk After Coming Face To Face For First Time Since Fury Win

Oleksandr Usyk sits right at the top of many pound-for-pound lists.

The former undisputed cruiserweight champion stepped up to heavyweight just five years ago and has beaten all comers on his way to gaining every belt in boxing’s blue-riband division.

After victories over Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora the Ukrainian dethroned Anthony Joshua, taking his WBA, IBF and WBO titles when he outpointed the Brit over 12 rounds in London back in 2021. The following year Usyk repeated the feat and retained his belts in a rematch in Saudi Arabia

READ MORE:http://Anthony Joshua Delivers 4 Word Message To Usyk After Coming Face To Face For First Time Since Fury Win

Daniel Dubois was then called as a mandatory and, after being put on the canvas for the first time in his career from a controversial low blow, Usyk stopped his man in the ninth round to setup an undisputed clash against WBC champion Tyson Fury.

The 37-year-old defeated ‘The Gypsy King’ twice within the space of seven months to cement his standing as the best heavyweight of his generation and become the divisions first undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis nearly 25 years ago.

Anthony Joshua

At The Ring Magazine awards, Joshua came face-to-face to Usyk for the first time since his second victory over Fury and had a simple message for the champion after cleaning out the division – “I’m proud of you”.

Tyson Fury Needed Just 2 Words When Asked If Oleksandr Usyk Is The Best He Has Ever Faced

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk engaged in two of the best fights of 2024.

The first one in May came after much build-up. It saw two unbeaten heavyweight greats go up against one another to contest the first undisputed champion status since Lennox Lewis claim that title back in 1999.

After 12 closely fought rounds, it was Usyk who had his hand raised. He was the one who landed the biggest shot in the 9th round and sent Fury reeling around the ropes to take a 10 count and then a split decision.

Back in December, the pair went at it again over another 12 rounds. Once again the Ukrainian pushed the fight with front foot pressure, landed more, cleaner shots and again got a points win, this time unanimously on all three of the judges score cards of 116-112.

READ MORE:Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk contract deals blow to …

The win meant he pretty much completed boxing as a former gold medalist turned undisputed cruiserweight in 2018 and now a still unbeaten heavyweight who has also beaten current IBF world champion Daniel Dubois by knockout.

Tyson Fury

In the post-fight press conference, Fury was asked if Usyk is the best boxer he has ever faced but didn’t agree.

“In that fight there he never hurt me once. I’ve got a couple of flesh wounds, they’ll be gone in two or three days. No mark on me.”

Despite that view, Usyk remains the only man to have beaten Fury in the ring. Options for ‘The Gypsy King’ should he decide to fight on now include a huge British showdown with Anthony Joshua which could well turn out to be a legacy fight.

Usyk meanwhile could well look to rematch Dubois to once again become undisputed champion, or go back down to cruiserweight for some of his old titles.

Usyk Summed Up Deontay Wilder’s Chances Of Ever Beating Anthony Joshua In Just 1 Word

Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder is in danger of being the match-up that got away in this heavyweight era.

The two big punchers could have, at one stage, faced off for the undisputed crown, but failed talks and different paths put paid to that and both men would lost their belts.

Joshua was first upset by Andy Ruiz Jr and, though he won the unified titles back in the rematch, Wilder was then embroiled in a trilogy with Tyson Fury that he would come out relieved of his WBC belt.

‘AJ’ then lost again to Oleksandr Usyk and couldn’t reverse the result in a return fight. The lack of belts seemed to then make talks easier with his American rival, as well as the introduction of Riyadh Season and its deep pockets, and the pair were put on a collision course, fighting on the same card against different opponents with wins setting up the clash.

READ MORE:Oleksandr Usyk Makes Final Anthony Joshua-Daniel Dubois Prediction After Beating Both

Joshua did his part, beating Otto Wallin by fifth round stoppage, but Wilder was upset over the distance by Joseph Parker. The Brit would instead face and knockout Francis Ngannou. Wilder again tried to build back by facing giant Chinese southpaw Zhilei Zhang. He was stopped inside five leaving not just the ‘AJ’ fight on the ropes, but his career entire.

Usyk, having shared the ring with the Brit for 24 rounds, made a prediction back in 2023 for if the pair of knockout artists were to face off at their best. He gave his former foe a chance, but leaned ‘60%’ to Wilder.

Anthony Joshua

“It would’ve been a phenomenal match. Wilder’s unique if he clips, one is unable to fight back. I’m going with Wilder on 60% for the contest. He’s a puncher and Joshua could be set on. Deontay’s able to send someone flying when he touches them. They usually have the flight.”

Joshua was recently stopped by now IBF Champion Daniel Dubois, once again opening the door to the fight after Wilder announced he will not retire. However, ‘AJ’ is much more likely to pursue another long-awaited clash with Fury instead.

Chris Eubank Jr Is Absolutely Certain How Usyk vs Dubois Rematch Goes: “If He Fights Like That”

Daniel Dubois is keen to run it back with Oleksandr Usyk.

The pair first met in August of 2023 in Poland, with Usyk defending his unified heavyweight world titles.

Though he outboxed Dubois for large periods of the fight, scoring a knockdown in the eighth and stoppage in the ninth, the Brit’s side have held on to the low blow that put the Ukrainian down in the fifth as a claim to winning the fight, believing the shot to have been legal.

Since then, Usyk became undisputed with a win over Tyson Fury and, to honour the rematch, vacated the IBF belt, which was awarded to Dubois. The young Brit defended his new title with a fifth round knockout over Anthony Joshua.

READ MORE:Heavyweight ‘Obliterated’ Daniel Dubois In Sparring Before ‘Breaking His Nose And..

It was after that performance that Chris Eubank Jr told Mail Sport Boxing that the younger man could beat Usyk now.

“With that type of performance, I think he could [beat Usyk]. I didn’t see that Dubois against Usyk. If that Dubois fought Usyk then there would’ve been a different outcome.”

Daniel Dubois

After Usyk’s second win over Fury, Dubois promptly entered the ring to call for a rematch after being ‘robbed’ in Poland. He was criticised not only for taking the spotlight but also overlooking Joseph Parker, who he faces on February 22 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Should ‘DDD’ come through former champ Parker as he clearly expects to, Usyk did verbally agree to run it back – a chance to become twice undisputed in the division. Many, though, feel he should retire on top.

Tony Bellew Has No Doubt Who Wins Prime George Foreman vs Oleksandr Usyk: “I Have To Go With Him”

George Foreman and care two of the best heavyweights that boxing has seen.

Foreman’s legendary career saw him first become undisputed world heavyweight champion at the age of 24 when he knocked out Joe Frazier inside two rounds in 1973.

Foreman lost his titles 18 months later when he was stopped by Muhammad Ali in the iconic Rumble in the Jungle event, before he then initially retired in 1977.

He returned a decade later, but initially failed in his bids to become world champion again, suffering defeats to Evander Holyfield and Tommy Morrison respectively.

READ MORE:Tony Bellew Makes New Fury-Usyk Rematch Prediction: “I’ve Never Seen Him Hurt Before”…

‘Big George’ eventually did manage to capture world honours again though, stopping Michael Moorer in the 10th round to win the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles in November 1994.

Foreman holds the record as the oldest world heavyweight champion in history at the age of 46 years and 169 days old, and retired in 1997 with a record of 76 wins and just 5 defeats, with an incredible 68 of those wins coming by knockout.

Usyk’s achievements are just as impressive, having initially reigned at cruiserweight, becoming undisputed champion in 2018 after defeating the likes of Mairis Briedis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew.

The Ukrainian then moved up to heavyweight, beginning his time in the banner division with wins against Chazz Witherspoon and Derek Chisora, before he challenged Anthony Joshua for his world heavyweight titles.

Usyk beat Joshua to become WBA, IBF and WBO champion, before retaining them in a rematch a year later. He defended his belts once more against Daniel Dubois in August 2023, then took on Tyson Fury in an undisputed showdown in May 2024.

It was Usyk that claimed the win to add the WBC belt to his collection, before he then won the rematch against Fury this past December to again solidify his status as the current number one heavyweight in the world.

With all of that taken into consideration, former cruiserweight world champion Bellew has told Mail Sport Boxing who he thinks would win between Foreman and Usyk, and despite sharing the ring himself with the Ukrainian, he went with the legendary American.

“I’m going to have to go Big George.”

Usyk’s next move should be revealed in the coming months, but it may have already been revealed who he is expected to face.

Usyk Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Anthony Joshua Can Ever Beat Dubois: “There’s One Problem”

Oleksandr Usyk has shared the ring with both Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois, and watched from ringside as the latter knocked out the former at Wembley Stadium.

Dubois, though he lost to Usyk in a bid for the unified heavyweight titles, later picked up a belt when the Ukrainian vacated. His first defence was against two-time champion Anthony Joshua, who was the man Usyk won the titles from in the first place.

Dubois steamrolled Joshua in the first round, knocking him down and thus dictating how the fight would go thereafter. He dropped the favourite twice more on his way to a fifth round stoppage and career-best performance.

READ MORE:Anthony Joshua’s trainer responds to critics of ‘roll the dice’ advice during defeat to…

Though the 27-year-old looked like he wouldn’t be denied a

gainst anybody that night, some feel that Joshua looked off from the ring walk. That may include Usyk, who, in a recent interview with Mail Sport Boxing, backed the best ‘AJ’ to beat the best Dubois.

Speaking to Boxing King Media post-fight, Usyk had already pinpointed exactly why ‘AJ’ was making himself vulnerable to Dubois’ power punches.

Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois

“I’m not shocked because this is boxing. Daniel Dubois today was better. Anthony had one problem. Because this position [leans back with feet planted], it’s dangerous. If you want to, you step back like this [takes one foot back], not like this [repeats lean] because this is dangerous. We saw.”

Dubois is just as likely now to rematch Usyk as he is Joshua, having stepped into the ring to call out the Ukrainian after his most recent victory over Tyson Fury.

Oleksandr Usyk makes startling admission about ‘Rolex’ watch after getting $86m purse for Tyson Fury rematch

Oleksandr Usyk openly admitted to wearing a bootleg Rolex just days after successfully beating Tyson Fury in their second meeting.

While plenty of athletes like to show off their expensive clothing and jewelry, the fan-favorite heavyweight champion shamelessly boasted his fake timepiece in a street interview with United44.

After flashing the watch to the camera, Usyk quickly admitted to the inauthenticity of his accessory.

READ MORE:Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk contract deals blow to …

‘I was boasting a little and showed the cameraman my watch,’ he said, laughing. ‘It’s a Chinese Rolex.

‘I was in Turkey for training and saw guys selling Rolexes on the beach,’ Usyk continued. ‘I thought if I bought one, no one would guess that it was a fake. So I bought it for $100.’

As he pointed out, nobody questioned if the watch was fake considering the substantial amount the Ukrainian fighter has earned throughout his career.

Tyson Fury

After beating Tyson Fury for the second time over the weekend, Usyk reportedly took home $86million, per Ukrainian outlet Pravda.

Meanwhile, the Gypsy King bagged an estimated $70m.

The pair of heavyweight titans are also in line to increase their earnings through the pay-per-view revenue from broadcasts on DAZN PPV, Sky Sports Box Office, and TNT Sports Box Office.

Usyk’s startling admission may also be a slight hit at Fury, who is known to be fond of jaw-dropping custom timepieces from brands like Jacob & Co. and Rolex.

His unanimous decision victory over Fury moved Usyk to 23-0 as he retained his undisputed heavyweight titles.

Heavyweight Rival Slams Daniel Dubois Antics At Usyk vs Fury Fight Night: “He’s Moving Mad

Not everyone was impressed with Daniel Dubois entering the ring to call out Oleksandr Usyk after the Ukrainian beat Tyson Fury for a second time,

The rematch in Saudi Arabia saw Usyk once again assert his authority at the very top of the heavyweight tree. Allthree judges on December 21 scored the contest 116-112 to the Ukrainian to compete back-to-back victories over ‘The Gypsy King.’

READ MORE:IBF’s Order Puts Daniel Dubois Rematch in Jeopardy for Anthony Joshua

The first fight in May saw him become the undisputed world heavyweight champion on top of being a former undisputed cruiserweight star. Since then, Usyk had to vacate the IBF belt in order to honour the second match with Fury, and it was Dubois who was elevated to champion with that organisation after beating Fillip Hrgovic.

He then defended the belt against fellow Brit Anthony Joshua back in September and will again defend it in February against former world champion Joseph Parker.

Daniel Dubois

With that contest already locked in, it was a surprise for many to see Dubois in the ring and trying to goad Usyk into a second fight after being stopped the first time the pair met.

“Dubois is moving mad. He’s got Joseph Parker to think about. He’s moving mad. He’s lost it. Joseph Parker is not an easy fight. It’s kind of mad cause you’ve got a big dangerous fight coming up, it doesn’t make sense. Listen, right now Dubois is confident and he doesn’t care, he’s moving mad.”

That’s how guys lose, they overlook people towards bigger fights. Joseph Parker is no slouch, he’s got better in the last few years, he’s improved.”

The fight against Parker is part of a huge card that is topped by the light heavyweight rematch between undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

Tyson Fury looks to bounce back from the sole defeat of his professional career when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in a highly anticipated rematch on the 21st of December. The Ukrainian became the undisputed heavyweight world champion when he defeated ‘The Gypsy King’ via split decision back in May.

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Although Fury saw the final bell that night, many believe that he was fortunate to make it to the end of the fight as it could have easily been stopped in the ninth round. The Morecambe man was in trouble after a barrage of punches from Usyk sent him reeling back into the ropes. Rather than stopping the fight, though, the referee opted to give the Brit a standing eight count, allowing him to continue in the contest.

From that point, Fury needed to do something big to turn the tide in the bout. However, there wasn’t much in the way of tactical instruction coming from the Fury corner, with Tyson’s father John instead opting to bellow at his son, telling him that he was up on the cards and that he didn’t need to seek a stoppage.

As it turned out, though, Fury was in need of a knockout in order to become the undisputed heavyweight champion – and his corner came in for plenty of criticism for not making that clear to their fighter. Tyson himself recently addressed those critics during an interview in promotion of the new ‘Undisputed’ boxing video game.

Tyson Fury Explains Why he Won’t be Making Changes to his Corner for Usyk Rematch

‘The Gypsy King’ scoffed at the idea he should make any ‘drastic’ moves

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

 

“I know what I’ve got to do, nothing drastic,” Fury told host Paul Dempsey of the rematch.

“People can say ‘I want to change trainers or I’ll blame it on me conditioning coach or I’ll blame it on the cook or I’ll blame it on the mouse next door. Same team, same everything, I know what I’ve got to do. I thought I won the fight last time.”

Reflecting on the first bout, Fury explained: “I give him, [after] me boxing all my life and watching boxing my whole career, I gave him rounds eight, nine and ten, and round nine was a 10-8. So that’s what I give him out of the fight, but obviously the judges saw it a bit different, couple of them did, one of them had me winning. That’s what it was, it was as close as it can be.”

Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk judges’ scorecards
Manuel Oliver Palomo Craig Metcalfe Mike Fitzgerald
Rounds Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk Tyson Fury Oleksandr Usyk
Round 1 9 10 9 10 9 10
Round 2 10 9 10 9 9 10
Round 3 9 10 9 10 10 9
Round 4 9 10 10 9 10 9
Round 5 10 9 10 9 10 9
Round 6 10 9 10 9 10 9
Round 7 10 9 10 9 10 9
Round 8 9 10 9 10 9 10
Round 9 8 10 8 10 8 10
Round 10 9 10 9 10 9 10
Round 11 9 10 10 9 9 10
Round 12 10 9 10 9 10 9
Total 112 115 114 113 113 114

Fury has no interest in chancing his luck with the judges in December, appearing to believe that he cannot win the rematch on the judges scorecards.

“There’s no secret, I’m going in there to knock him out because I don’t think I’m gonna get a decision no matter what I do,” argued Fury. So I have to take it out of the judges’ hands. I believe I have to get him out of there.”

Fury has scored KO wins in 24 of his 34 victories. If he can secure his 25th stoppage against Usyk, then it will be the biggest result of his professional career.

The circumstances have seen Dubois, 26, elevated to IBF World Champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated the belt having held onto it since 2021.

Both men’s most notable opponent in common is the Ukrainian, who beat Joshua twice over the distance to retain and defend his titles and stopped Dubois the year later to keep hold of them.

 

As such, Usyk, with his elite boxing brain and experience of both men in the ring, is well-placed to pick a winner. Speaking to Boxing King Media, the recently undisputed champion backed ‘AJ.’“My favourite is Anthony Joshua. I will be predicting Anthony Joshua.”

Usyk-Dubois: Start time, live stream, TV channel, more for how to watch  heavyweight bout - DraftKings Network

The bookmakers agree that Joshua is most likely to get the win at Wembley Stadium, but Dubois and his team are confident they can force a changing of the guard on the British heavyweight scene.

Both men’s most notable opponent in common is the Ukrainian, who beat Joshua twice over the distance to retain and defend his titles and stopped Dubois the year later to keep hold of them.

As such, Usyk, with his elite boxing brain and experience of both men in the ring, is well-placed to pick a winner. Speaking to Boxing King Media, the recently undisputed champion backed ‘AJ“My favourite is Anthony Joshua. I will be predicting Anthony Joshua.”

The bookmakers agree that Joshua is most likely to get the win at Wembley Stadium, but Dubois and his team are confident they can force a changing of the guard on the British heavyweight scene.

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