KING ROAD of the
Warrior Tyson showed his never-say-die spirit AGAIN as champ Joshua was dethroned by Usyk
FOR Tyson Fury, jubilation. For Anthony Joshua, frustration.
British boxing’s two biggest stars began 2021 as the world’s heavyweight champions but only one of them, Fury, was able to maintain his status.
The Gypsy King produced a spectacular display in October to bring to a stunning conclusion his trilogy with Deontay Wilder and retain his WBC crown.
And, in doing so, he confirmed his claim that there isn’t another fighter like him on the planet.
Oleksandr Usyk, who outboxed Joshua in September to claim his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts, might hold more heavyweight titles.
But Fury put to bed any doubts that he is the premier star of the division and the man to beat for anyone who thinks otherwise.
The Morecambe Maximus put down the heavy-handed American in round three, but then had to climb off the canvas twice himself.
However, he rose again and, after flooring Wilder for a second time, he soon did so again to finish the fight in stunning fashion.
Joshua’s defeat had already ended any hopes Fury had of facing him in 2022.
And Fury will now fight in February against Dillian Whyte, if the mandatory challenger can settle his dispute with the WBC, and, if not, another Brit, Joe Joyce, says he will gladly step up.
As for Joshua, he simply came unstuck against a superior boxer as Usyk vindicated those who predicted that would be the case.
In doing so, the Ukrainian became only the third man in history – following Evander Holyfield and David Haye – to have held world titles at cruiserweight and heavyweight.
Joshua immediately activated the rematch clause in his contract with Usyk and the pair could well meet as early as March.
Away from the big boys’ division, Josh Taylor (above) wrote his name into the history books by becoming Britain’s first undisputed champion of the four-belt era in May, when he added American Jose Ramirez’s
WBC and WBO light-welterweight belts to the WBA and IBF titles already within his grasp.
Only four other fighters — Usyk, Bernard Hopkins, Jermain Taylor and Terence Crawford — had achieved the feat globally before the Scot, although Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez joined the party in November when he beat Caleb Plant to claim all four super-middleweight crowns. Taylor had hoped to defend his belts against mandatory challenger Jack Caterall this month, but the fight will now take place in February after the champion suffered a knee injury.
Cruiserweight Lawrence Okolie, who one day hopes to emulate Usyk, Haye and Holyfield by becoming heavyweight champion, made two successful defences of his WBO title.
Flyweight Sunny Edwards is the UK’S only other world champion – he defended his IBF title a fortnight ago against Jayson Mama after beating Moruti Mthalane to claim the crown in April. Super-middleweight Billy
Joe Saunders had started the year as another of Britain’s world champs, but he lost his status to Alvarez in brutal fashion in May.
Saunders’ trainer, Mark Tibbs, threw in the towel after his fighter suffered a fractured orbital, just six months since Saunders had lambasted Daniel Dubois for quitting against Joe Joyce after he suffered the same injury.
A rematch with rival Chris Eubank Junior next year remains a possibility for Saunders, although he will want at least one tune-up after his clash with Alvarez.
Eubank Jr’s clash with
Liam Williams has been postponed until January 29 after the Welshman suffered a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Conor Benn is in line for a massive 2022 as well after his star rose dramatically this year.
Benn destroyed Samuel Vargas in April and easily outpointed Adrian Granados in September before beating respected American veteran Chris Algieri this month with a KO of the year contender for his 20th pro win.