Anthony Joshua lost his world titles for the second time in less than two years at Tottenham last night.
Britain's WBA and IBF world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Uzyk, was defeated by the Ukrainian southpaw. It was a unanimous and irrefutable loss.
Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury and Tyson Fury are now the heavyweight division's king
.
Joshua fighting Tyson Fury, a Brit, for the undisputed title seems extremely unlikely. This fight was close to happening this summer.
As Joshua failed to show his superior strength, Usyk refused to run out of fuel, unlike almost every other petrol station in London.
Joshua was pinned to the ground by Usyk's final punches, and Joshua won the fight.
This defeat, Joshua's first on American soil, was not nearly as shocking after his incredible knock-ouyt loss to Andy Ruiz Jr in New York.
Usyk was the superior craftman and thoroughly deserved his win.
Joshua will have to figure out the southpaw in order to win next year's rematch. You wouldn't bet on that.
Joshua was three years away from the last time he had packed out a British arena - until he defeated Alexander Povetkin at Wembley.
He had already lost and won his titles to the fat Mexican Ruiz. Then he defeated Kubrat Pulev before a few spectators in late last year.
A fight with Fury was close to being realized in Saudi Arabia after years of speculation. However, American lawyers fought to stop the contest from happening. Britain wanted Fury to complete his trilogy against Wilder.
Usyk wasn't just a fill-in trader. His record as an Olympic gold medalist and former world champion cruiserweight was undisputed.
MORE FROM THE JOSHUA VS USYK FIGHT
- JOSHUA VS USYK – ROUND BY ROUND
- CELEBS OUT IN FORCE AT TOTTENHAM STADIUM
With a Ukrainian support base to cheer him on and a descendant of Cossack warriors and a decent Ukrainian following, Usyk moved up to the big boys' section and added two wins to his unbeaten record, including defeating Derek Chisora from Britain.
Joshua remembered his night out clubbing in Tottenham a decade ago. The locals were dressed up in all their finest for Saturday nights on the tiles and enjoyed the first ever boxing show at the new Spurs home.
Over the years, the Lane had put on quite a few, including the night Chris Eubank's uppercut left Michael Watson in a coma and Frank Bruno's defeat to veteran Joe Bugner.
This super-venue is multipurpose and can host everything from rock concerts to the Europa Conference League.
The Saturday night fight lights were an added spectacle.
Just as the atmosphere was heating up during the undercard bouts, there was a terrifying hush when Callum Smith's second round knockout sent Lenin Castillo to his death. He twitched then.
The Dominican Republic man was taken to the hospital on a stretcher. He regained consciousness in an ambulance. However, this was a disturbing reminder of the brutal nature of this game for casual fighters.
Although Usyk had gained weight since his cruiserweight days Joshua looks much slimmer than Joshua a few years ago, the Brit still weighed 19lb more.
Just before ten it was showtime. MC Michael Buffer got them all ready to rumble, conducting a full house to the official theme song to bleeding everything, Sweet Caroline.
Joshua walked out of Harry Kane's home in a white satin gown. He looked as relaxed as a man walking his dog on Sunday mornings. The pyrotechnics had his initials written out.
The first round was tense, with mutual respect. Usyk showed rapid hand speed, while Joshua managed to land a few crisp rights. It was difficult for Usyk to identify his southpaw opponent.
The third saw Usyk show his class by connecting with an early uppercut and then hitting the champion with a lefthook which rocked his head.
Joshua was unable to follow up with any more substantive actions after the atmosphere became tense.
Joshua took it to the next level in the fifth round, scoring with a few telling blows to his head and body - his superior power beginning to show - but Usyk still managed to land a few of his own.
The sixth was slow, but Joshua sped it up with a few juddering rights later on, drawing cheers from an anxious crowd.
Joshua hit the seventh round with a left hook, but Usyk quickly retaliated with an aggressive straight left. Joshua was then rocked by Usyk with yet another clubbing left towards the end of the round.
However, the champion found a second wind and won the eighth. He was able to bobble, weave, find his target often, and win the eighth. Yet Usyk was still durable.
The ninth was cat and mouse - Usyk connected with a thudding left, Joshua had a decent combination.
Joshua made a cut in the right eye of the Ukrainian early in the tenth. Usyk was shaken for the first time, swinging wild while Usyk did the more efficient work.
Usyk was unbowed but bloodied and, in the penultimate round he shook Joshua with an straight left and outboxed him.
Near the end of the final bell Usyk pinched Joshua to the ropes, almost flooring the Brit, underlining the Brit's superiority.
