Former heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, suffered a third defeat of his illustrious career when he lost for the second time to Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, August 20 in Saudi Arabia. His bid to recapture the unified heavyweight titles ended in disappointment as the fight ended in a split decision in favor of Usyk. Two judges scored the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk and the third scored 115-113 to Anthony Joshua. It was a tough fight with a much-improved showing of aggressiveness and intent. Unfortunately for the 32-year-old, his Ukrainian opponent showed more brilliance helped him retain the titles.
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However, the highlight of the fight wasn’t that Joshua lost… again. It was because of his bizarre behaviour after he lost. The British-Nigerian who is widely known for his cool-headedness on and off the ring lost his head for a while. He went on a rant about passion, the war in Ukraine, and heading to jail but for the grace of boxing. He took the shine from Usyk who rightly should have had his moment.
Although Joshua later apologised for his actions, the damage was already done. Fans called his rant embarrassing and criticized him for it. It’s been two days since the fight, and all everyone is talking about is how Joshua lost it after failing to reclaim the unified WBO, WBA, and IBF titles.
Table of Content hide 1Ego vs honour 2Will there be a comeback for Anthony Joshua? 2.1Larry Holmes 2.2Evander Holyfield 2.3Mike Tyson 2.4George Foreman 2.5Muhammad Ali 3So…Ego vs honour
While Joshua and Usyk were slugging it out in the ring, two factors were at play in the background – ego versus honour. Anthony Joshua needed to win for himself. Following his shocking defeat to former undisputed cruiserweight champion, Usyk who delivered what would have been a KO blow to Joshua’s long-term legacy with a clear-cut decision in their IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO title fight before 65,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2021. Saturday’s fight was beyond reclaiming the heavyweight titles for the charismatic British muscleman. It was a fight for redemption, to prove to himself and the world that he’s still got it. That he’s still the marketable AJ everyone thought him to be. His ego was at stake and it was shattered when Usyk defeated him the second time.
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On the other hand, there was Usyk who had just returned from defending his country against the Russian invasion. Watching him in that ring, it was obvious the Ukrainian was fighting for a greater cause other than himself. It wasn’t about defending his titles. It was about defending the honour of his country. As far as that ring was concerned, Joshua was Russia and Russia must bow to Ukraine!
In this type of situation, ego automatically loses. As much as Joshua put his heart in the fight, it was nothing compared to what Usyk represents, not just to himself but to his country.
Will there be a comeback for Anthony Joshua?
To answer this question, let’s take a look at some of the greatest heavyweight comebacks in boxing history.
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes was one of the greatest heavyweight champions in boxing history. He first won the heavyweight championship via split decision over Ken Norton in 1978. Then he proceeded to go on one of the longest and most dominant runs in the history of the division with a perfect 48-0, only one victory behind the legendary Rocky Marciano. Holmes then lost back-to-back fights against former light heavyweight champion Michael Spinks. After that, he walked away from the spotlight. However, he made a remarkable comeback after beating Ray Mercer in February 1992. Although he lost a title shot to Evander Holyfield in June of that year, he continued to be impressive in the ring until past age 50, compiling a record of 15-2.
Evander Holyfield
Evander Holyfield lost his heavyweight title to Michael Moorer in 1994. It was later announced that he suffered from a heart condition and would be retiring. A year later, he returned to the ring and won a decision over Ray Mercer. 1996 saw one of the greatest fights of all time between Holyfield and Mike Tyson. The relentless Holyfield beat down the ferocious Tyson, stopping him in Round 11. He remains the only three-time heavyweight champion besides Muhammad Ali. Holyfield continued to fight until he was well past forty.
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Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson was a dominating force of nature in the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, after a four-year stint in prison, he seemed to have lost his dominance in the heavyweights. But he returned to action in 1995 and knocked out Frank Bruno in three rounds to capture the WBC title. In September 1996, Tyson smashed Bruce Seldon in the first round to win the WBA belt. Two months later, he faced Evander who beat him after 11 rounds. Tyson infamously bit off Holyfield’s ear to get himself disqualified in the rematch. But he will always go down in history as one of the greatest boxers of all time.
George Foreman
Foreman was one of the fearsome heavyweight champions in the sport’s history in the 1970s. He first retired to become a preacher and a fast-food junkie, gaining over 300 pounds. In 1994, at the age of 45, he made a spectacular comeback by knocking out heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, after 10 rounds to claim the title. He was the oldest man to win the heavyweight title. George Foreman’s story remains an inspiration to people today.
Muhammad Ali
Ali was the undefeated heavyweight champion until he got into trouble with the US government after he refused to be drafted into the army. Also, his boxing licences were yanked by various athletic commissions in the country forcing him into retirement. If he had chosen to retire, he would still be one of the undefeated boxing champions of all time. But he made a spectacular comeback three years after retirement, by dropping heavyweight contenders Jerry Quarry and Oscar Bonavena, and setting up “The Fight of the Century” against undefeated champion Joe Frazier in March 1971. It was a disaster for Ali as Frazier dropped him to retain the title.
By 1973, it seemed Ali would never wear the heavyweight title belt. In January 1974, Ali defeated Frazier in a rematch to set up a fight with the new heavyweight champion, Foreman. The fight was held in Zaire in October 1974 and a huge international event. The odds were against Ali. Foreman was younger and bigger and thought to be unbeatable. But Ali knocked him out in 8 rounds to win the heavyweight title. However, he lost it to Leon Spinks in 1978 and won it back in an immediate rematch to become the first three-time heavyweight champion in history.
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So…
Following AJ’s meltdown after his second defeat to Usyk, many believe a comeback is near impossible. In Nigeria, fans believe AJ “spoiled his career” by visiting President Muhammadu Buhari, a supposed harbinger of bad luck for athletes. But that’s just nonsense. From the discourse above, we’ll understand that no one stays on top forever. Even the best have had their low moments. Anthony Joshua may have suffered a painful defeat but that’s not the end. Already, he has made it clear there will be a comeback and when he does, we’ll be on the sidelines cheering him on as he dons the unified heavyweight title belts for the third time.
