Anthony Joshua reacts to Tyson Fury’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk

Anthony Joshua believes the scorecards went the right way as Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Usyk beat Fury 115-112, 113-114, 114-111 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000.

The result saw Usyk, 37, add to his undisputed cruiserweight triumph and Olympic gold medal, while keeping the Ukrainian unbeaten. Meanwhile, 35-year-old Fury suffered his first professional loss.

And the scorecards went the right way, according to Fury and Usyk’s heavyweight rival Joshua. The Briton’s reaction was caught by TNT Sports after the final bell and he immediately replied “Usyk” when he was asked who he won the fight.

Hearn continued: “I thought Usyk won the fight. I thought it was close. I struggled to give Usyk any of the first six [rounds]. I thought Fury was in control and looked fantastic in seven, eight. Nine was obviously massive, how he survived I don’t know.”

Hearn was referencing the moment Usyk hurt Fury badly in round nine, with the Briton arguably saved by a strange standing count from the referee.