What next for Anthony Joshua? World title wilderness awaits but the show will go on with Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte ahead

Despite a daring performance in Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua’s hopes of becoming a three-time heavyweight champion were derailed on Saturday night after falling victim to another Oleksandr Usyk masterclass.

Last September’s defeat in London ushered in major changes to the Joshua camp with long-time trainer Rob McCracken shown the door as Robert Garcia was brought in to oversee things alongside Angel Fernandez.

In Jeddah, Joshua came forward with more purpose, more spite and more desire. But it wasn’t enough to halt Usyk who turned in another dazzling display of technique, intelligence and grit to cement his status one of the finest fighters on the planet.

His spirited showing in the ring merits praise but Joshua’s wild behaviour in the aftermath of the defeat – which included throwing Usyk’s WBA and Ring Magazine belts out of the ring and addressing the crowd in a passionate yet confusing speech – left a sour taste.

Later in a post-fight press conference, the 32-year-old broke down in tears as he sought to explain what went on after the contest. It served to underline the immense pressure Joshua had been under heading into Saturday’s rematch.

Having spent his mid-to-late 20s sat at the summit of the sport, Joshua has now lost three of his last five bouts. He has entered a crucial stage of a career that is now in need of a revival of sorts, but suggestions that he is done at the top level of boxing are premature.

The 2012 Olympian is likely to find himself out of the world title picture for the time being. Usyk and Tyson Fury are surely on collision course and should that not come to pass, there are a number of fighters ahead of Joshua in the queue having waited patiently for their shot.

Joe Joyce and Joseph Parker, No.1 and