I should have won – Joshua laments second defeat to Usyk

 

Anthony Joshua has bemoaned his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk, after the Ukrainian fought back to retain his world heavyweight titles in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

 

Joshua threw two of Usyk’s belts to the ground and stormed out of the ring in rage, after failing to inflict on the Ukrainian his first professional loss.

 

The Briton smelt victory when he had Usyk hanging on in the ninth round.

 

However, the mobile southpaw came firing back and controlled the final stages for a split-decision win.

 

While Joshua is left trying to rebuild his career after his third defeat, Usyk retains the IBF, WBA and WBO titles and will now seek a unification showdown with WBC champion Tyson Fury.

 

“I should have won,” Joshua lamented.

 

“I adapted, I made the change that I needed to give him more of a competitor. It wasn’t enough but I left everything in the gym.”