Wrap:
An abslolute clinic from the new champion. Near flawless and the heavyweight division has a new king and for me, Usyk will dominate this division for the next half-decade. AJ had a good middle part of the fight and should they confirm the rematch as scheduled, he can lean on those four rounds. Usyk says he is keen to take several months off and he says he wasn't at his best tonight. He is such a smooth boxer - a pleasure to watch that man fight.
WBO, WBA, IBF heavyweight titles - Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk
Result: Oleksandr Usyk via uananimous decision
117-112, 116-112, 115-113
Newshub score: Usyk 116-112
Round 12 - Joshua needs a stoppage or a dodgy decision to keep his belts. Usyk comes out with two big hooks - a right and a left to open the round. AJ backs him up with two right hands but Usyk lands to massive left hands himself. Overhand right for Usyk. AJ walking forward but Usyk landing all the shots. Usyk lands three straight jabs and a heavy straight left that hurts AJ. Left hand again for Usyk but AJ throws a big counter right. Awesome round. Usyk backing the champ up now. Left hook for Usyk but AJ lands right back.Usyk going crazy with combinations as AJ is backed up against the ropes and the fight ends. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9.
Round 11 - Championship rounds. Usyk out with pace and rocks AJ with a couple of big shots but AJ lands a big right himself to back Usyk up. Great fight. AJ lands a counter right hand - heavy shot. Usyk misses on a right hand as AJ goes down the middle. Jab lands for AJ - that was stiff. Big combination lands for Usyk - AJ replies with a nice shot himself. Usyk getting out of the way of the power punches. Usyk lands two left hands to end the round. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
Round 10 - AJ out quickly. Usyk over the top lands in close and then he lands a big left hand. The sting isn't there anymore though. Another straight left for Usyk. AJ bleeding from his nose. Jab for Usyk. Lovely short right hand for AJ lands - Usyk replies but it's blocked by the champ. AJ has a cut under his right eye...Usyk is cut over his right eye and it looks bad. Usyk to the body lands but AJ lands a big right hand that backs Usyk up. Big left hand for Usyk and a couple of short right hands. Great round. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
Round 9 - I have the fight all square after 8 rounds. Usyk with a hook misses as AJ gets in close and lands twice to the body. He has his second wind here and looks the fresher fighter. Usyk gets in clsoe but AJ lands a short uppercut on the inside. Usyk lands a one-two as AJ whiffs on a right hand. Left over the top lands for Usyk and another. AJ backing Usyk up a bit - AJ moving nicely and lands a jab. Big left hook lands for Usyk as AJ looks to reply. Jab lands for Usyk as AJ misses on a huge left hand. Another close round. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
Round 8 - Jab for Usyk. Usyk pawing the jab - speed has slowed. AJ with a nice right hand lands amd another. Usyk taking this round off so far. Jab lands for AJ and a shot to the body. Double jab followed by a right lands for the champ. Usyk wild on a right hand whiffs badly. AJ lands an uppercut to the body. Usyk lands the straight left this time but whiffs on a hook. Body shot again for AJ - that'll pay off later. All AJ in that round. Newshub score: Joshua 10-9
Round 7 - Usyk comes out strong and lands to the body. Big left hand lands for Usyk and he backs up the champ and lands to the body. Overhand left lands for Usyk - parried a bit by AJ. Left lands again for Usyk but AJ replies to the body with a heavy hook. Jab and then a heavy left lands for Usyk. Short right lands for Usyk. Double jab and a big left hand almist drops AJ - ropes held him up. Right hand lands for Usyk and a right hook. AJ looking to reply but can't find him. Usyk's round for sure. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
Round 6 - Nice jab lands for AJ. Usyk lands a stiff jab himself. AJ moving forward now. Nice combination lands for Usyk - Joshua replies with a short blocked hook. Left to the body for AJ. Usyk looking frustrated as AJ lands a huge right hand. Short right hook lands for Usyk and AJ replies with a straight right - Usyk starting to fade here. Didn't see that coming. Newshub score: Joshua 10-9
Round 5 - Stiff jab and an uppercut lands for Usyk. He is the supreme boxer - this will come down to AJs power and if he can land a big shot. AJ lands a short left hook - good shot but Usyk is ok. Left hand lands for Usyk. Two huge hooks to the body land for AJ - Usyk bothered by those. Straight left lands for Usyk as AJ lands a heavy right hand. Joshua pickinh up the pace in this round. AJ lands a nice overhand to end the round. Newshub score: Joshua 10-9
Round 4 - Usyk stumbles Joshua again with a left to open the round. May have been a slip that time. Jab lands for Usyk and a short lead hook. AJ throws a hard right but it's parried by Usyk.Cut below the right eye of the challenger. Left cross lands for Usyk and a nice body shot. Double jab lands for Usyk. AJ has his legs back now. Nice jab and a short right lands for AJ. Close round - likely a swing round. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
Round 3 - Usyk aggressive to start the round and lands a nice body shot. AJ lands a right but Usyk gets it back. Usyk lands a one-two - the left landed clean. AJ took it well. Body shot lands for Usyk. Usyk landing his jab at will in this round and avoiding the shots of AJ. Huge straight left lands for Usyk and lands a huge right hand that wobbles the champion. All Usyk. Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
Round 2 - AJ doing nice work with his jab to open up. Very quick pace to this fight. Double jab lands for Usyk. AJ doubles up with a couple of hooks - good shots. Body shot for Usyk lands. AJ replies with one of his own. AJ doing much much better - his jab has been excellent. Usyk lands a hard right but AJ replies with a big hit himself. Straight left lands for the challenger to end the round. Very close. Newshub score: Joshua 10-9
Round 1 - Here we go! Both men wearing white trucks - AJ with black trim, Usyk blue and yellow. AJ takes the centre but Usyk lands an early power left. Body shot lands for AJ. Lead left lands for Usyk. Exchanging jabs in the centre of the ring. Good movement from the challenger. Body shot for Usyk scores. Right hand for AJ backs up Usyk. Big left lands square on AJs chin. Right hook lands for Usyk - he looks superb. Body shot lands for Usyk - AJ replies with a left hook. Straight left lands for Usyk to end the round and that's his round for sure.
Newshub score: Usyk 10-9
10:13am - Usyk 18-0 with 13kos to his name. Joshua 24-1 with 22kos to his name.
10:10am - AJ finally makes it to the ring. Introduction and a "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" to come.
10:09am - AJ getting some A-class pyro treatment as he makes his way out.
10:05am - The champion making his way to the ring now.
10:03am - No lies... it's like a two minute walk to the ring.
10:02am - Usyk coming out to some Ukranian pop music for the win.
10:01am - Michael Buffer in the mic - he calls out the challenger first.
9:56am - Ukraine national anthem to be followed by the God Save The Queen.
9:55am - What a great jam - one of the G.O.A.T jams.
9:52am - Sweet Caroline is playing!!!! We are getting close folks!
9:51am - You know it's getting close when the blast Sweet Caroline over the loud speakers ...unfortunately that hasn't happened yet.... we continue to hurry up and wait.
9:37am - Sounds like 10am (NZ time) for a start, so still some time to come. So much fluff, just let the boys bang man.
9:30am - Still going through all the pre-fight build-up stuff - no sign of the fighters yet.
9:06am - Closing in now on main event time - 30 minutes or so away.
9:03am - WBO cruiserweight title: Lawrence Okolie (c) beat Dilan Prasovic via TKO - Round 3.
9:01am - Okolie with a cutting right hand to the ribs and Prasovic is down again and won't get up. Game over.
8:58am - Okolie drops Prasovic with a big second-round right hand. Follows up with another big right, but the Serbian stays on his feet this time. All Okolie through two.
8:52am - Okolie is expected to be the bext big thing on British boxing, with a heavyweight run likely in his future. He looks very good through the first round.
8:40am - Not to far away from the feature bout for the WBO cruiserweight title as champion Lawrence Okolie takes on Dilan Prasovic.
8:21am - Bit of a robbery that one for me - home town decision for sure.
8:20am - Lightweight bout: Campbell Hatton beat Sonny Martinez (56-54) referee sole judge.
8:19am - The challenger is in the house.
8:16am - I got Martinez up by a round with one to go.
7:54am - Update form Eddie Hearn re Castillo - he is responsive and on his way to hospital.
7:43am - Up next a lightweight bout between Sonny Martinez and Campbell Hatton - son of the great Ricky Hatton.
Light heavyweight bout - Callum Smith beats Lenin Castillo via knockout (Round one)
7:24am - Castillo is being carted away in a stretcher - will update as soon as the coverage provides information.
7:20am - Castillo still prone - cameras have cut away from the ring. Hopefully he is okay.
7:19am - Wow - Callum Smith just floored Castillo with a huge right hand and the fight is over in the second round. Castillo's body was shaking on the ground - worrying scenes in London as several EMTs attend to Castillo.
7:08am - Next up a light heavyweight bout between former super middleweight world champ Callum Smith and Lenin Castillo. Smith lost last time out for the first time in his career against Canelo Alvarez.
IBF international welterweight title: Florian Marku beats Maxim Prodan via split decision
(96-94, 97-93, 91-99)
6:48am - Two rounds to go in this opening bout - Marku is dominating with his quick hands and head movement.
6:13am - Morning folks - action is about to get underway in London with a lightweight bout between Maxim Prodan and Florian Marku - the winner is likely to receive an IBF world title bout.
Kia ora fight fans and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight boxing championship bout between Brit Anthony Joshua and undefeated challenger Oleksandr Usyk.
For just the fifth time in history, two Olympic gold medallists do battle for the biggest prize in sports, with the Ukrainian hoping to emulate Evander Holyfield in claiming the heavyweight strap after dominating the cruiserweight division.
Joshua (24-1) has cast a confident figure all week, as he tries to sweep aside one of the biggest threats to his championship reign.
Victory should see the 31-year-old Brit book an undisputed heavyweight title showdown with Tyson Fury next year, if ‘The Gypsy King’ can get past Deontay Wilder next month.
"Let's go out there, have fun and put on a great show," says Joshua."I want to be poised, relaxed and precise - that's what I'm going to do.
“I can't wait. I'm getting better as a fighter, so why shouldn't I be excited?
“It's the best time of my life. Everyone is going to be happy on Saturday."
A man of few words, most of them humorous, Usyk is the most technically proficient boxer in the division and his left hand, southpaw stance is likely to provide a tough test for the power-punching champion.
"Every fight makes history, and me and Anthony will make another step in history," says Usyk. "It will be something people will be talking about, will remember and will be watching on television."
The main event isn't expected before 10am (NZ time), but fans can savour an action-packed undercard.
Anthony Joshua v Oleksandr Usyk, for Joshua's WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts
Lawrence Okolie v Dilan Prasovic, for Okolie's WBO cruiserweight belt
Callum Smith v Lenin Castillo, light heavyweight
Maxim Prodan v Florian Marku, for Prodan's IBF international welterweight belt
Christopher Ousley v Khasan Baysangurov, for the vacant WBA intercontinental middleweight belt
- Campbell Hatton v Izan Dura, lightweight
TAB Odds: Joshua $1.33, Usyk $3.10, draw $19
Usyk unperturbed by perceived lack of power in heavyweight title tilt against Joshua
Ukrainian challenger Oleksandr Usyk has dismissed concerns that he doesn't possess the size and strength to take out world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, insisting the "power is in your spirit".
Brit Joshua will put his IBF, WBA and WBO belts on the line on Sunday (NZ time) against the undefeated Usyk, a former cruiserweight, who is 18-0 in his professional career.
"People talk a lot," says Usyk, the 2016 Olympic heavyweight gold medallist.
"We'll see on Saturday what happens, because the power is in your spirit - it's not about being big or small."
While new to the heavyweight division, Usyk tore through the cruiserweight class, after turning pro eight years ago, becoming one of boxing's rare unified champions in 2018, by winning all four belts in the category.
"David Haye was three times smaller than Nikolai Valuev, which shows that it doesn't matter."
The 34-year-old expects the bout will play out like a chess match in the early rounds, while Joshua believes the fight will be special, with two former Olympic champions doing battle.
"I'm grateful that this is happening," says the 31-year-old.
"People will remember this fight for a long time."
Joshua last fought in December 2020, when he knocked out Bulgarian challenger Kubrat Pulev. He was scheduled to take on compatriot Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia this year, but the fight was cancelled, after an American arbitrator ordered Fury to take on Deontay Wilder in a third bout for the WBC title.
That bout will take place next month and while Joshua admits he has an eye on the outcome, his focus is on dispatching Usyk.
"Happy to be back again," he says. "You have to want to train and put the work in, and improve and practice.
"I'm not an easy fight for anyone, I like fighting. God has blessed me, shown me the path to get into boxing.
"This fight gives me the motivation to practice. I want to give more and more each day.
"I'm still in camp now, this is just another day in camp. If you tell me I was fighting King Kong, I would give it a go.
"This is my job."
Usyk is arguably the most decorated amateur boxer in the division, with several world titles to accommodate his Rio 2016 triumph, and has seamlessly transitioned to the pro ranks.
Joshua says he always knew he would cross paths with the charismatic Ukrainian.
"[Usyk] was fighting 10-12 years as an amateur, before he went to the Olympics and the worlds, so he is probably happy to be in this position - the cream always rises to the top."
Reuters
