By Geno McGahee
The former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, 19-0, 13 KO’s, captured the IBO/IBF/WBO/WBA heavyweight titles tonight with a dominant decision win over Anthony Joshua, 24-2, 22 KO’s by scores of 117-112, 116-112 and 115-113. I saw it 116-112.
In the first round, Usyk attacked and used the straight left hand to rattle the defending champion. Joshua didn’t look right either. He wasn’t this big bulky monster that he usually is. He looked quite thin. Perhaps it was for speed but it didn’t work.
Joshua tried to time Usyk but couldn’t and wasn’t really throwing many punches, only finding success with a straight right hand counter. Joshua would find some success and put some rounds together but the last half of the fight was all Usyk and he nearly stopped AJ in the final seconds of the final round. The decision was an easy won. The winner was clear, but 70,000 AJ fans, in his hometown and with a foreign challenger led to some doubt. I suspected a split decision draw was on the way.
In the end, the right call was made and we have a new champion and a wrench thrown into the works of the heavyweight division. Even if AJ decides to take an immediate rematch and somehow wins, a showdown with Tyson Fury has lost its luster. I suspect that AJ will not take the rematch. He was so thoroughly beaten there is no point.
