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Oleksandr Usyk Didn't Want To Knock Anthony Joshua Out In Front Of His Family

Oleksandr Usyk Didn't Want To Knock Anthony Joshua Out In Front Of His Family

Oleksandr Usyk claimed an unanimous decision victory over Anthony Joshua to become unified world heavyweight champion.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Oleksandr Usyk has admitted he elected against knocking out Anthony Joshua because he didn't want to do it in front of his family.

The Ukrainian put on an absolute boxing clinic to claim an unanimous decision victory over 'AJ' at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and become WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion.

Usyk, in just his third fight at heavyweight, displayed incredible movement with both his head and feet and put it on his opponent en route to another win in the United Kingdom.

Image: PA
Image: PA

He could have even produced a stoppage right at the end of the 12th round after unleashing a barrage of punches on Joshua before the final bell tolled.

However, 'The Cat', has revealed that he did not want to Joshua's family members to see him badly beaten.

"Why are you so bloodthirsty? There is victory, everything is fine," Usyk said when asked if he went a little easy on Joshua despite the win, as per The Mirror.

"Why is it necessary for a person to fall? He has relatives, friends, a mother and a father. This is a big chunk of health if a person falls. I'm not for that.

"I had no objective to knock him out because my trainer, in my corner, pushed me not to do that.

"In the beginning, I hit him hard and tried to knock him out. But then my trainer said: 'Just stop, and do your job.'"

Usyk had a wonderful and respectful exchange with Joshua backstage after their fight, while he also expressed interest in a rematch in Kiev in the future.

Image: PA
Image: PA

His stance in not wanting to go for the kill evoked memories of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov not wanting to break Justin Gaethje's arm at UFC 254.

The undefeated Dagestani fighter switched from a triangle choke instead of an ambar - his late father's favourite submission - because he didn't want to hurt him in front of his parents.

"As for Justin... First I went for his arm," the 32-year-old said in a press conference in June.

"And only then I moved to the triangle choke... I realised, he would not give up and I didn't want to cripple his hand, so I went for the triangle choke.

"His parents were there in attendance, his father, his mother... in the front row.

"Footage doesn't show it, but when I entered the cage I could see them sitting there and looking at me.

"So those two guys I didn't want to hurt too bad."

Featured Image Credit: Image: PA

Topics: Boxing, Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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