Against everything and everyone, in the name of speakers. The one that Oleksandr Usyk he ennobled with a supreme level performance, in the ring of London, in front of 62 thousand people, in the home of the now former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Beaten. With unanimous verdict (117-112, 116-112, 115-113), without extenuating circumstances. Because the Ukrainian boxer was simply superior. He prepared the match of the vita, the one who was giving away the belts Wba, Ibf e Wbo: fast, always mobile on the trunk, never a point of reference offered to the physical strength of the champion (heavier than almost nine kilograms and even higher). He stung and defended Usyk, in a perpetual dance for all twelve shots of the fight in the Tottenham stadium. Which in fact rewrites history, balance and scenarios of the queen weight category. Because Joshua goes out a lot resized from the technical-tactical blow suffered, because the meeting of the century with Tyson Fury (if it ever does) will no longer have the charm ofunification of the belts, because the new champion of the highs will be a tough opponent for anyone to face.
The first to beat the news of the defeat Joshua, however, spoke of a sensational surprise. It is up to a certain point. And not just for it score with which the two boxers arrived in the ring: 23 wins (22 by knockout) and one defeat for the champion English, 18 wins and no losses for theUkrainian, until a year ago undisputed champion of average maximum and then moved up in category to try to establish itself in the Olympus of boxing. Anyone who knows Usyk knew full well that it wouldn’t be a walk in the park Joshua, because Usyk is a defender sublime, a great cashier and has his best qualities in speed and tactical intelligence when it comes to attack. Basically what Joshua is suffering from. It had been seen in the ring of New York June 2, 2019: he underestimated Andy Ruiz, the Mexican forced him to fool with aggression and generosity, but without great technique. Since then Joshua has entered the ring two more times: in the rematch with Ruiz (victory on points after a defensive fight) and in the easy match against the Bulgarian Pulev (ko in the ninth round). Two successes, but against opponents clearly lower and at the end of two good performances, but not excellent. With these premises it was not impossible to imagine hers difficulty in facing a very technical and experienced boxer like Usyk (34 years old, almost 32 English).
So it was. After a studio departure, Usyk began to sting with the jab, to defend and place accelerated with hook which have put the sample, who in the third round risked finishing at rug due to a direct well placed on the chin. It must have been fright, the fact is that Joshua has resumed the check of the match, but without ever giving the impression of being able to win it before limit: hit Usyk, marked his face, but never managed to weaken the movement and the strategy of the Ukrainian, very good at not breaking down and continuing in the match project he had studied for months. In the seventh shot another topical moment, with Joshua still in trouble for the combination unleashed by Usyk, who definitely convinced the judges in the final part of the twelfth and final round: one sequence of impressive shots, Joshua never knocked down but now won, with him cheekbone right marked, without breath.
At the gong the image is paradigmatica: Joshua at his corner, powerless, with difficulty breathing and perhaps realizing that yes, it happened again, he lost by favorite, this time with a strong boxer and not with the Mexican semi unknown from fast food. Usyk, for his part, is lucid: yes kneel, alone, pray. Then he gets up, laughs just a little, waits on his feet for the verdict like an employee waiting in the hall for the elevator to go to the office. The Ukrainian’s elevator, however, leads in paradiso: the new heavyweight champion laughs, but it is not the exultation of those who have realized that they have made the feat of life. No: it is the smile of the awareness, of those who know they have deserved the title e belts. With the class, with the experience, with the courage. With that boxing figure which now bursts into the scenario of the premier category, where the role of Joshua it is inevitably downsized.
Of course, in the contract there is the clause of revenge (which will be done), but the Olympic champion of London 2012 – curiosity: Usyk also won gold 11 years ago. The English defeated Cammarelle in the super heavyweight, the Ukrainian Clemente Russo in the peaks – no longer has the aura of an absolute champion. If that with Ruiz could have been a hiccup due to the underestimation of the opponent, that of today is a different defeat, which highlighted as never before i limits by Joshua. What if surprised a tactical level he is unable to change the match, which is not a great one cashier, that if under psychological pressure he is unable to unload his physical power and his best shots. It will be a downsizing definitive? Early to say, but the signal is not good. Certainly who believed that Joshua could undermine the greats of the history of boxing today is perhaps changing its mind: the talent that became absolute champion by defeating Volodymyr Klyčko (today at ringside) on April 29, 2017, five years later he is forced to return to earth by the hand (and head) of another Ukrainian. Who deservedly beat him, at his home, in front of his people. And he took his belts. With merit. In the name of a speakers improve.
–
