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LONDON. — Oleksandr Usyk has called for an undisputed world heavyweight boxing championship clash with Tyson Fury after retaining his WBO, WBA and IBF titles with a spectacular split decision rematch victory over Anthony Joshua.
Usyk delivered a boxing master-class in Jeddah on Saturday night to repeat last year’s victory over two-time world champion Joshua, who put up a courageous and improved display against the Ukrainian.
Fury, whose last fight was a knock-out victory over Dillian Whyte in April, recently reaffirmed his intention to retire from boxing, but appeared to suggest in a social media post immediately after Usyk’s victory that he would return to the ring.
“I’m sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet,” Usyk said in the ring after his split decision win.
“I’m sure, I’m convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him and if I’m not fighting Tyson Fury, I’m not fighting at all.”
Moments later, Fury posted a video on Instagram in which he criticised both Joshua and Usyk, before suggesting he could be persuaded to come out of a short-lived retirement.
“It was one of the worst heavyweight title fights l have ever seen,” Fury said.
“I would annihilate both of them on the same night. Get your chequebook out because the Gypsy King is here to stay forever.”
Meanwhile, Joshua says emotions got the better of him and he let himself down with his bizarre post-fight antics after losing to Usyk in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Joshua was defeated by split decision in the heavyweight world title rematch.
After the contest, the Briton picked up two of Usyk’s belts, dropped them out of the ring and strode towards the dressing room, before returning to the ring to give an impassioned speech.
“I let myself down,” Joshua tweeted.
After returning to the ring, the 32-year-old confronted Usyk, saying, “you’re not strong, how did you beat me? How? I had character and determination’.
Joshua then picked up the microphone and produced a expletive-filled speech in which he reflected on the fight and his shortcomings as a boxer.
He also talked about several topics, including his troubles with police as a teenager, the war in Ukraine, his career and led the crowd in saluting 35-year-old Usyk.
In his post-fight news conference, Joshua said he had acted that way because he was mad at himself. “When you’re angry you might do stupid things,” he added. — Sky Sports
Online Reporter