Oleksandr Usyk displayed little enthusiasm for revisiting the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou bout.
In a match that occurred on March 8, Joshua decisively defeated the ex-UFC heavyweight champion, knocking him down twice before a final knockout in the second round sealed Ngannou’s fate.
Usyk and Joshua are closely linked due to their two bouts in 2021 and 2022, with Usyk securing victories in both encounters by points, claiming the WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight world titles from the British boxer.
Since those defeats, Joshua has been on a resurgence path, achieving four consecutive victories as he reestablished his form in 2023 and into 2024. His latest triumph over Ngannou was particularly emphatic.
Joshua first sent Ngannou to the canvas with a powerful right in the initial round. Though Ngannou managed to rise, a more forceful punch midway through the second round saw him down again. Despite getting up, it was clear the end was near.
Joshua then delivered a crushing right hand that left Ngannou unable to continue, marking the fight with a knockout.
While contributing to a DAZN segment, Usyk was presented with a laptop to watch and react to the match. He remained silent, displaying only grimaces when Joshua knocked Ngannou down the second time.
Yet, when the moment for the knockout arrived, Usyk chose to shut the laptop, opting not to watch the concluding hit. Without offering an explanation, it’s known that Usyk prefers winning through points over knockouts, which may shed light on his reaction.
“Why are you so bloodthirsty? There is victory, everything is fine. Why is it necessary for a person to fall? He has a mother and father. This is a big chunk of health if a person falls. I’m not for that,” he said.
