Oleksandr Usyk compares Anthony Joshua to ‘little boy’ after Briton’s post-fight rant
The IndependentSign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Oleksandr Usyk has revealed what he was thinking during Anthony Joshua’s post-fight rant last month, when the Ukrainian outpointed the Briton for the second time. Usyk beat Joshua in September 2021 to take the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight titles from “AJ”, before replicating the feat this August to retain the gold. “It might be a reasonable explanation for the outbreak of his verbal diarrhoea, but I believe he is a good person.” Explaining why he chose not to interrupt Joshua, who had wrapped himself in a Ukraine flag before taking the mic, Usyk said: “I thought, ‘You poor fool, why are you doing this?’ He reminded me of a little boy who wanted to play with a ball, but it was taken away from him; then he got angry and eventually decided to throw it over the neighbour’s fence. And when you get all of those done, the only thing you want to do is head to your hotel room to finally get some rest.” Usyk was expected to take on WBC title holder Tyson Fury next to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion, but the Ukrainian is not due to be fit in time for the Briton’s desired fight date.