Rage On The Red Sea: What Next For Anthony Joshua After A Huge Setback In Jeddah

Another hope of comeback from the Londoner was dealt with a huge blow after Usyk win on split decisions to retain his titles. Before the fight many considered Joshua as the underdog after the previous fight in London where he was masterfully outclassed by the champion, but he was a different person in this rematch, more readying to come out and impose himself knowing the fight could say a lot on his boxing career. It is going to be a hard pill to swallow for the Londoner, but what happens next is going to determine that fighter’s mentality he has put on throughout his fights.

A must-win match for AJ termed by many after he was ripped apart in the meeting in Tottenham stadium at his backyard. Joshua hoping to reinvent himself in Saudi Arabia and come out good as he did against Andy Ruiz, but Usyk was a totally different boxer the best pound-for-pound in the division. A lot play role in his preparations to this fight, coming out from representing a nation that has been raged with war and bombarded by its neighbour, the whole Ukraine nation was behind him to get this win, knowing how significant a role it can play on their defence against Russia invasion, he will go home a proud man and has rightful established himself as a proper heavyweight champion.

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Joshua warring to get the win was furious when the split decisions were announced in the favour of the Ukrainian he threw the belts on the ground and return to give emotional speech “Usyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion.

“If you knew my story, you’d understand the passion. I’m not an amateur boxer. I was going to jail and I got bail and I started training. If I got sentenced, I wanted to be able to fight.

“It shows the passion we put into this. For this guy to beat me tonight, it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in so please give him a round of applause as heavyweight champion of world.

“They said that I’m not a 12-round fighter. I ain’t 14 stone, I’m 18 stone, I’m heavy. It’s hard work. This guy here is phenomenal.”

AJ speaking about the war in Ukraine and how Usyk thrive off the circumstances: “I was studying Ukraine and all the champions from your amazing country. I’ve never been there. What’s happening there, I don’t know but it’s not nice. For Usyk to be champion, under those circumstances, please raise your hands.”

The Ukrainian southpaw dedicated to win to his family, team and the military defending his country against Russia invasion, it is unclear how significant this win will play role in the war in Ukraine but definitely another win for the whole Ukraine in such adversity and turbulent times, he said: “I want to thank everyone who prayed for me. I want to thank God for the help he gave me today because he did give me a lot today. My lord is Jesus Christ. I can thank you Saudi. Thank you so much.

“I devote this victory to my family, my country, my team, to all the military defending this country. Thank you so much.

“This is already history. Many generations are going to watch this fight especially the round when someone tried to beat me hard but I stood it and came back.”

Possible unification bout with Tyson Fury : “I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet. I’m convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. If I’m not fighting Fury I’m not fighting at all.

“Only God knows whether I will fight him or not but all these gentlemen here around me, my team, they are going to help me.

“Thanks Lord for everything.”

Anthony Joshua will dust himself up, definitely there is no time to grief he has got to keep the energy and look out for possible fights to comeback as a top boxer in this division and reinvent himself.