These types of a reduction leaves Joshua’s long run at the pinnacle of boxing’s blue-riband division unsure, with designs for a lucrative all-British unification showdown with WBC champion Tyson Fury firmly off the table for now.
Indeed, there now exists the very actual prospect of that battle not going on at all, with Fury established to encounter Deontay Wilder for a 3rd time in Las Vegas on Oct 9.
Joshua will have a likelihood to avenge the loss to Usyk, with the deal for Saturday’s bout that contains a rematch clause for the deposed winner.
And promoter Hearn mentioned soon after the a single-sided contest: “The fighter in AJ is already talking about successful the rematch. It was a tricky defeat. I had it fairly near in the eighth and then Usyk ran away with it. If that happens once again, he will get beat yet again.
“Usyk’s self esteem will be sky large. He has to impose himself but when you get to the degree of AJ, there are no 10-round comeback fights or heat-ups. You are straight into the struggle. He will be an underdog in that rematch. He selected to acquire on a pound-for-pound terrific tonight, and it did not function out. He justifies credit score for that but this is sport.
“This is his existence and he lives and breathes boxing. Boxing saved him. Boxing built him and he is not going to drop out of really like with the video game. When you do is the time to stroll absent. The need will nevertheless be there but you have to be very good enough. That was an average performance by AJ. He can do so much greater but he is dealing with a pound-for-pound fantastic. You can criticise him but he is experiencing the ideal.
“There is a new unified world heavyweight champion. There is no place sulking about it. He will go all over again, but tonight belongs to Usyk.”
Joshua sustained weighty hurt close to his appropriate eye all through the reduction to Usyk, although is previously targeted on a swift return to the gym.
The London 2012 Olympic gold medallist did swiftly avenge his only other skilled decline to date versus Andy Ruiz Jr, even though Hearn thinks he will have to make some important modifications in buy to accomplish that feat once again.
“He is devastated and now chatting about schooling once again,” Hearn mentioned. “Congratulations to Oleksandr Usyk. What a fighter. He set in a fantastic overall performance and the improved person won.
“The threat was often to overthink it by seeking to be technical, if you really do not use your characteristics and you really do not make your mark early adequate in the combat. Usyk is very fit and has wonderful feet. He threw a good deal of punches and it was all the issues you fear about versus a fighter like Usyk.
“He was likely little bit far more aggressive than anticipated and he was definitely very good. He goes down in background and there are no issues from AJ. He will go yet again. He has been beaten by a pound-for-pound good fighter.
“We have been in this article in advance of at Madison Sq. Back garden [against Ruiz in 2019]. That was different and he has been crushed by the superior male on the night time. He will have to make some major improvements in the rematch to avenge that defeat.”