Sporting greatness! Anthony Joshua hangs the Ukrainian flag on his shoulders and extols the gallantry of Oleksandr Usyk and his country

Photo: Giuseppe Cacace/AFP/Getty Images

In a memorable fight the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk won a split decision against Britain’s Anthony Joshua at the lavish Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia, marking his second win against his tough rival. In the most emblematic moment of the night, Joshua took the Ukrainian flag with Usyk while they waited together for the result. The Watford-born man put on his shoulders the flag of the country hit by the Russian invasion.

In this way the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk retained all four of his belts; the unified WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight championship. Joshua showed his sporting greatness when after the judges gave Usyk the victory, he raised the Ukrainian flag with himthis being the most emotional moment of an intense fight that was resolved in 12 rounds.

The words of Oleksandr Usyk

After the emotional moment, Oleksandr Usyk thanked Joshua and gave his first words after retaining his four belts. “I want to thank everyone who has prayed for me, and to God for the help he has given me, and to the people of Saudi Arabia. This victory is for my country, for my family, for the military defending our nation”, he commented, visibly moved.

“This is already historic, many generations will see this fight, I have received many blows but I have resisted and turned it around. I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired, I want to fight himif I don’t fight him, I don’t fight anyone, ”Usyk concluded.

Usyk’s possible fight against Tyson Fury and Joshua’s future

It is still early to know or predict if Tyson Fury will heed Oleksandr Usyk’s callthe only thing certain to this day is that “The King of the Gypsies” is retired, but with the challenge of the Ukrainian, expectations will surely be opened for a possible fight between the two champions.

On the side of Anthony Joshua, it remains to be seen what fate has in store for him after a fight in which he did not look bad but it was not enough to take the victory. Some experts say it was his last chance, but only time will tell.

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