Boxer Anthony Joshua expressed his sadness at his loss to his Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksandr Usyk, in the Red Sea bout in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua lost to Usyek in the Red Sea bout after a 12-round fight, before the Ukrainian decided to win by a divided decision of the referees committee, and retained the heavyweight title.
“I don’t care about strength, I have to have the skill, to be strong, it doesn’t mean that you have to win in boxing, you win here only with skills,” Joshua said in comments reported by the British newspaper “The Sun” after the fight.
Joshua continued his speech, addressing his words to his winning opponent Usik, saying: “You are not strong, how did you defeat me? How? You defeated me with skill, although I have the character and determination.”
Joshua climbed to the ring to complete his words: “If you knew my story, you would know how excited I am. I have not been a boxer since the age of five. I went to prison and faced many difficulties in my career.”
He added, “I am not a boxer who stays in the ring for 12 rounds, I am of a new breed; the breed of Mike Tyson, Jack Dempsey and Sonny Liston.”
He concluded: “I want you to applaud Osik, this man is a great talent, we will cheer him on 3 times.”
It is noteworthy that Joshua failed to avenge his loss against the same opponent Usik last year in September.