The Perfect Storm
Date25 September 2021
VenueTottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
Title(s) on the lineWBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles
Tale of the tape
Boxer Anthony Joshua Oleksandr Usyk
Nickname AJ The Cat
Hometown Watford, Hertfordshire, England Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine
Pre-fight record 24–1 (22 KOs) 18–0 (13 KOs)
Age 31 34
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm) 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 240 lb (109 kg) 221+1⁄4 lb (100 kg)
Style Orthodox Southpaw
Recognition WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion Former undisputed cruiserweight champion
The Ring No. 4 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
Result
Usyk wins via 12–round unanimous decision (117–112, 116–112, 115–113)

Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk, billed as The Perfect Storm, was a professional boxing match that was contested between WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, and former undisputed cruiserweight champion and the WBO's heavyweight mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Usyk. The bout took place on 25 September 2021 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Usyk winning by unanimous decision.

Background

Anthony Joshua (left) and Oleksandr Usyk (right).

Usyk became the first ever four-belt undisputed cruiserweight champion in 2018 after winning the World Boxing Super Series tournament. Following the decision to move up to the heavyweight division in 2019, and after Joshua lost his titles against Andy Ruiz Jr in June of that year, Usyk successfully petitioned the WBO to be installed as their mandatory challenger. Per the WBO's rules, a 'super champion' is entitled to the mandatory challenger status in the event they move to a different weight class.[1] Joshua regained his titles by defeating Ruiz in a rematch in December 2019, prompting the WBO to order a fight between Joshua and Usyk. The following day, the IBF also ordered Joshua to face their mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev.[2] After Joshua fulfilled his IBF mandatory with a victory over Pulev in December 2020, the WBO held off on ordering a fight between Joshua and Usyk while talks progressed between the former and Tyson Fury for an undisputed heavyweight title bout.

In the meantime, Usyk's team entered into negotiations with Joe Joyce, with the intention of fighting for the WBO interim title.[3] However, on 17 May, a day after Fury confirmed the date of a Joshua fight, the news broke that a judge had ordered Fury to fulfill a prior contractual obligation and face Deontay Wilder before September 2021. The following day the WBO issued Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, with a "show cause" order, giving him 48 hours to provide proof of a contract between Joshua and Fury, and failure to do so would force Joshua to enter negotiations with Usyk.[4] Hearn requested an extension on the deadline, which was denied by the WBO, who then ordered Joshua to reach a deal with Usyk within 10 days before holding a purse bid for rights to the fight.[5]

On 25 June, Hearn announced that the bout would take place on 25 September, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.[6][7]

Fight results

Oleksandr Usyk became only the third boxer in history – after Evander Holyfield and David Haye – to win world titles both at cruiserweight and heavyweight.[8] At the same time, Anthony Joshua's defeat left the prospect of a highly anticipated undisputed unification bout with Tyson Fury in tatters.[8][9]

According to CompuBox, Oleksandr Usyk connected more total punches than Anthony Joshua – 148 to 123. He was also more precise of the two opponents, landing 28% of punches thrown compared to Joshua's 19.2%. Usyk's landed punches were the most by a Joshua opponent. Usyk closed the show by landing 29 punches in round 12, the most by a Joshua opponent.[10]

After the fight, Usyk performed a Cossack dance in the ring to celebrate his victory.[11]

Scoring card by judges

1. United Kingdom Howard Foster (red): 113–115 for Usyk[12]
2. United States Steve Weisfield (white): 112–116 for Usyk[12]
3. Ukraine Viktor Fesechko[13][14] (blue): 112–117 for Usyk[12]

Reception

Critics universally praised Usyk's performance during the fight. Coral Barry of BBC Sport called it "exceptional", "incredible" and a "masterclass".[15] Chris Eubank Jr. called it "one of the biggest statements in boxing for a very long time".[11] Lennox Lewis called it "a great tactical performance".[16] Max Kellerman compared the match to Holmes vs. Spinks, in which a reign of a bigger boxer was likewise ended.[17] Roy Jones Jr. reacted: "Usyk didn't beat [Joshua]. He dominated him".[18]

Regarding the defender's performance, Coral Barry noted: "It was a strange, almost hapless display from Joshua which leaves his legacy as one of the heavyweight greats in ruins."[15]

Aftermath

Immediately after the fight, Anthony Joshua's team has "activated in principle" the rematch clause to face Oleksandr Usyk in early 2022.[19][20] Eddie Hearn has warned that Joshua will be more aggressive in the rematch: "You'll see a different Anthony Joshua in this fight… This game plan is not box and move, this plan is to go in and hurt Usyk".[20] On 10 October, Joshua officially exercised his contractual right to an immediate rematch.[21] On 22 June, it was announced that a rematch was scheduled to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 20 August with Usyk defending the WBA, WBO and IBF championship belts, and Joshua, as the challenger.[22]

Fight card

Weight Class vs. Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk def. Anthony Joshua (c) UD 12/12 Note 1
Cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie (c) def. Dilan Prašović KO 3/12 1:57 Note 2
Lightweight Campbell Hatton def. Sonni Martinez PTS 6/6
Light heavyweight Callum Smith def. Lenin Castillo KO 2/10 0:55
Welterweight Florian Marku def. Maxim Prodan (c) SD 10/10 Note 3
Middleweight Cristopher Ousley def. Khasan Baysangurov MD 10/10 Note 4
Light heavyweight Daniel Lapin def. Pawel Martyniuk PTS 6/6

^Note 1 For WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles
^Note 2 For WBO junior-heavyweight title
^Note 3 For IBF International welterweight title
^Note 4 For vacant WBA Inter-Continental middleweight title

    Broadcasting

    The undercard was televised for a 30 minute Freeview on Sky Sports Arena, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Boxing YouTube. The main event was televised live on Sky Sports Box Office PPV in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as MEGOGO in Ukraine.

    Country Broadcaster
    Free-to-air Cable/Pay TV PPV Stream
     United Kingdom Sky Sports Boxing YouTube
    Sky Sports Mix (undercard)    		 Sky Sports Arena
    Sky Sports Main Event
    Sky Showcase (undercard)    		 Sky Sports Box Office
     Ireland
     Ukraine — MEGOGO[23]
     France — Canal+[24] — MyCanal
     Netherlands RTL 7[25] RTL XL
     Russia REN TV[26] —
    Worldwide — DAZNexcl.

    ^excl. Live on DAZN in over 170 countries and territories, excluding the UK, Ireland, Ukraine, France, Netherlands, China, Israel and MENA[27]

    References

    1. ↑ Benson, Michael (24 June 2019). "WBO explain why Usyk is made mandatory for Ruiz vs Joshua rematch winner, not Whyte". Talksport. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
    2. ↑ Rafael, Dan (12 December 2019). "Joshua has dual mandatory orders from IBF, WBO". ESPN. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
    3. ↑ Donovan, Jake (19 January 2021). "Fury-Joshua: WBO To Conditionally Approve Undisputed Championship". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
    4. ↑ Donovan, Jake (19 May 2021). "Joshua-Usyk: WBO Gives Hearn 48 Hours To Provide Proof of Fury Deal". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
    5. ↑ Donovan, Jake (22 May 2021). "WBO Orders Joshua-Usyk, Rejects Hearn Request For Extension On Show Cause Notice". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
    6. ↑ "Eddie Hearn confirms Anthony Joshua will fight Oleksandr Usyk on September 25". The Independent. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
    7. ↑ "Anthony Joshua: 'I need to fight Tyson Fury, we need it for boxing'". BBC Sport. 13 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
    8. 1 2 Benson, Michael (26 September 2021). "Anthony Joshua result: Brit loses by unanimous decision as Oleksandr Usyk outclasses champion with magnificent boxing performance to leave Tyson Fury super-fight in tatters". talkSport.com.
    9. ↑ Coppinger, Mike (26 September 2021). "Boxing lost its biggest fight in Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua but gained a star in Oleksandr Usyk". ESPN.
    10. ↑ "Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua - CompuBox Punch Stats". BoxingScene. 25 September 2021.
    11. 1 2 McLaughlin, Luke (25 September 2021). "Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua by unanimous decision – as it happened". The Guardian.
    12. 1 2 3 Ringside Footage Emerges Of Anthony Joshua's 'Sarcastic' Reaction After Scorecards Were Read Out
    13. ↑ The name of the judge was incorrectly entered on the scoring card. Instead of Fesechko, the organizers wrote Fesechenko.
    14. ↑ Judge's profile of Viktor Fesechko on the boxrec.com
    15. 1 2 Barry, Coral (25 September 2021). "Oleksandr Usyk beats Anthony Joshua: Ukrainian challenger outclasses Briton by unanimous decision". BBC Sport.
    16. ↑ Coleman, Joe (26 September 2021). "Lennox Lewis critical of Anthony Joshua as 'Battle of Britain' hopes with Tyson Fury in tatters after Oleksandr Usyk outclasses AJ". talkSport.com.
    17. ↑ Ricks, William (26 September 2021). "A new champion: Reactions to Oleksandr Usyk's victory against Anthony Joshua". ESPN.
    18. ↑ Al-Khateeb, Zac (26 September 2021). "Boxing world reacts to Oleksandr Usyk upset of Anthony Joshua: 'He dominated him'". Sporting News.
    19. ↑ Netherton, Alexander (29 September 2021). "Anthony Joshua rematch clause 'activated in principle' as Oleksandr Usyk pushes for Kiev fight venue". DAZN.
    20. 1 2 Collins, Michael (27 September 2021). "Eddie Hearn: Joshua's Game Plan Is To Hurt Usyk In The Rematch, Not Box". Boxing News 24/7.
    21. ↑ Coppinger, Mike (10 October 2021). "Anthony Joshua exercises right to rematch with Oleksandr Usyk for heavyweight championship". ESPN.
    22. ↑ "Usyk, Joshua share intense faceoff, ready for rematch". BY STEVE DOUGLAS. AP SPORTS. JUNE 22, 2022.
    23. ↑ "Broadcast of the fight "Joshua - Usyk" and the movie "Stadion, tak stadion"* – розклад сеансів, квитки у кіно у Кінотеатрі Сінема Сіті Kyiv, Ocean Plaza". cinemaciti.ua. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
    24. ↑ "Joshua affrontera Usyk le 25 septembre". myCANAL (in French). Retrieved 14 September 2021.
    25. ↑ "WK Boksen: Joshua Vs. Usyk". www.tvgids.tv. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
    26. ↑ "Бой: Усик - Джошуа". www.ren.tv. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
    27. ↑ "What channel is the Joshua vs. Usyk fight? A full comprehensive list of countries where you can watch on DAZN | DAZN News Global". 25 September 2021.
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