Anthony Joshua was accused of “stealing Usyk’s moment” by former world champion Carl Froch after taking the microphone and giving a barely weird speech to the gang following his cut up choice loss of their world heavyweight title rematch.
Having gone down 115-113, 116-112, 113-115 on the scorecards after an improved efficiency within the rematch of their one-sided preliminary contest, Joshua stormed out of the ring earlier than returning, chucking away a few the belts after which taking the microphone.
He monologued in barely frantic style, speaking up his personal efficiency, declaring himself a “new breed” of heavyweight, and ridiculing comparisons to Mike Tyson, though he did additionally pay tribute to his acquainted conqueror.
“I am giving you my story,” started Joshua. “I was going to jail. I got bailed and started training my arse off, because if I got sentenced then I would not have been able to fight.
“I could have done better, but it showed the hard work he must have put in to beat me. This guy is a phenomenal talent, how many belts you got bro, five? We are going to cheer for him. Hip-hip, hooray!
“I studied all your champions, what’s happening there, I don’t know, but I know it’s not nice. There were issues in Ukraine. Klitschko vs Williams. Usyk, under those circumstances, he became champ.”
“I’m not a 12-round fighter. I am a new breed of heavyweight, Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston – they say ‘he doesn’t throw combinations like Rocky Marciano,’ because I’m not 14 stone. I am 18 stone, I am heavy.”
Anthony Joshua briefly walked off with the belts
(PA Wire)
The outburst prompted blended reactions, with some saluting Joshua’s ardour and coronary heart however Frazer Clarke was amongst these to say his crew ought to have stepped in to cease him, whereas former tremendous middleweight world champion Froch – working as a pundit for Sky Sports Box Office – wasn’t impressed.
Froch stated: “He stole Usyk’s moment. He didn’t say anything that would offend anybody too much. He stole Usyk’s moment. He was emotionally built up. I didn’t like the belts being chucked. It was disrespectful.”
Fellow pundit Lawrence Okolie additionally believes it wasn’t the best way to behave, saying: “I’m sure he will regret it, it was Usyk’s time. We can only imagine the pressure he’s under. It’s a reflection of boxing. He was left alone by his team. A war and nobody stepped in to do the right thing.”
Commentator Matthew Macklin was barely extra equivocal, stating: “It was strange. Emotions running high. He was probably a bit concussed.
“Everybody knocking him, we’re not dealing with that. He’s disappointed. He pushed himself to the limit. The timing wasn’t great.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk
