New Video Reveals Previously Unheard Comment That Set off Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia

The rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk was a great show of boxing. The heavyweights battled through 12 exciting rounds, with Usyk narrowly winning via split decision. However, what came after was a display of ‘unprofessionalism’ by Joshua, who went on a rant after the fight.

A seemingly frustrated Joshua vented out his emotions after a devastating loss by the Ukrainian. The tensions were building up as soon as the winner was announced and a new video revealed what exactly set Joshua off in Saudi Arabia.

After the fight, Usyk praised the British boxer for his strength, calling him a “strong guy”. However, this did not get the reaction Usyk was hoping for, as Joshua angrily stated that being strong did not help him win.

“I don’t care about strong, I have to have skills. Being strong doesn’t win boxing, skills win boxing.” He said. Moreover, he also stated that Usyk could beat him because of his skills, not by being more muscular. “You’re not strong how did you beat me? How? because of skill.” He told Usyk.

There is some truth in Joshua’s statement, as Usyk was certainly the more skilled boxer of the two. He used his jab to control the pace even when AJ tried to pressure him using his size. The fight was closed in the first half, however, Usyk started to take the fight away from Joshua in the second half.

Read More: Mike Tyson, Who Tore Apart Anthony Joshua, Gets Called Out by “AJ” in Heated Rant

The exciting bout was only stained due to Joshua’s post-fight antics, which garnered him a lot of criticism. However, many have also defended the British boxer, claiming that it was a natural reaction to suffering a heartbreaking loss.

Eddie Hearn defends Anthony Joshua

Joshua’s promoter and Matchroom CEO, Eddie Hearn, came to AJ’s defense after the fight. He praised the former champ in an Instagram post and defended him, stating the pressure of being at the top finally got to him.“Don’t be deceived by a brave face or a strong frame. This man has always been under pressure and has given so much to British boxing. The emotion last night was that of a devastated man, and maybe all those years of pressure finally showed,” Hearn wrote.

Moreover, he also stated that he was excited to see Joshua free from the pressures of being the heavyweight champion. After reaching the highest level of boxing, Joshua now has a challenge ahead of him to do it once again and prove his doubters wrong.

Do you think Joshua’s reaction was justified? Let us know in the comments.

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