Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua vs. Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk RBR.

Spot on. At the start of about Round 5, Macklin tried to claim Usyk is going to tire. Smith responded, incredulously" "Are you sure?" - but his tone told us his real meaning, which was "stop talking bollocks Matt".

 

I appreciate he’s the home fighter but it’s so frustratingly predictable when they do those little interviews with random footballers that they’re all going to call Joshua.

At least Josh Taylor tried to be a bit more balanced. I think he actually backed Usyk but didn’t want to completely go against the grain.

 

I ended up watch the fight without the commentator. Couldn’t handle RJJ.

 

AJ was never dominated in the fight, and it was only in the finishing seconds of the fight that Usyk really could have knocked him out I think, but they called off the last round 5 seconds short while Usyk took a breath and AJ was leaning on the ropes, smiling, hands down. His feet wobbled just seconds earlier, before he fell back onto the ropes, maybe 10 seconds left of the fight. Had the fight been just 10-15 seconds longer, AJ may have been stopped, either by KO or the ref going in between, because his hands were down. So, AJ was in the fight all the time, but I think Usyk only tried to knock him down in the earlier rounds twice, without managing to do so. When he couldn't he reverted back to boxing skilfully, too avoid being countered, and won most rounds. I had it quite even though, 3-3 halfway and 115-113 in the end, giving the champ the edge in the closer rounds.

 

Usyk was much better, he threw with more venom, his head movement was similar to his early days in WSB. He was absolutely special. One of the best performances I've ever seen. If he knocked AJ out in 3 rounds, it woulnd't have been as impressive. He put on a boxing clinic.

 

This was just a glimpse of what boxing can be at it's best. 2 highly skilled, in prime or close to prime, men fighting at a high level, with fair conditions. No bickering about robbery or corruption. Just conversations about how good the fight was.

 

Yep absolute rubbish from Macklin - I clocked that too. Usyk is renowned for his engine ffs.

 

you are right I was wrong. I have to admit it.

 

AJ was hurt and wobbled 6-7 times in the fight, he was dominated. AJ won 2 rounds, the rest ... bar maybe one were clear Usyk rounds.

 

Where is the town idiot @Ty is That Guy

 

I think it was clearly the wrong tactic from AJ and his team. I heard his corner saying keep going side to side, stay behind the jab, let him come to you.

That might have been plan A but it clearly wasn't working so why they were still telling him to do it at round 10 was beyond me.

 

I have been ridiculed on here for stating that I have seen nothing indicating that Joshua is an elite fighter pointing to a CV full of puddings with only 1 real test v Wlad before tonight.

He was absolutely schooled tonight and it would be exactly the same in the future.

It is one thing winning a World Title from Charles Martin and Rice Pudding Ruiz Jnr and defending against Paint Dry Parkers and Pudding Pulevs - totally different game fighting genuine elite fighters.

No shame in that loss tonight and he will always come up short when facing any elite fighter.

 

No.

 

I watched it in silence and enjoyed every minute.