Anthony Joshua vs Oleksandr Usyk 2: Joshua delivers bizarre outburst in ring after losing rematch

Anthony Joshua failed to win back his heavyweight titles as Oleksandr Usyk won by split decision in Saudi Arabia.

Usyk has retained the WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles after a 12-round split decision over Anthony Joshua. Ringside judges Victor Fesechko (116-112) and Steve Gray (115-113) scored it for Usyk, while Glenn Feldman (115-113) had it for Joshua.

While Joshua fought considerably better than their last bout in London last September, the Brit was still second-best in Jeddah as the Ukrainian put in another performance befitting of a world champion.

After the bout, Joshua threw down the belts after the result was read, before giving an emotive and slightly bizarre speech in the ring after, where he spoke out against critics.

"If you knew my story you would understand the passion," he said after grabbing a microphone in the ring. "I ain't no amateur boxer from five-years-old that was an elite prospect from youth. I was going to jail, I got bail and I started training my arse off, I wanted to be able to fight.

"I'm stealing this Usyk. I'm sorry, but it's because of the passion we put into this. This guy to beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better, but it shows the level of hard work I put in so please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world."

"I'm not a 12 round fighter, look at me, I'm a new breed of heavyweights, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey, 'you don't throw combinations like Rocky Marciano', I'm 18 stone, I'm heavy, it's hard work. This guy here is a phenomenal talent, we're going to cheer for him three times."

Prior to his odd outburst, he had also exchanged words with Usyk in the ring: “Skills win boxing, you’re not strong, how did you beat me? I had character!"

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