Oleksandr Usyk struggles to watch back Anthony Joshua’s brutal KO of Francis Ngannou as the heavyweight champion pulls funny faces
- Anthony Joshua scored a stunning knockout victory against Francis Ngannou
- Oleksandr Usyk made funny faces as he struggled to rewatch the fight
- The Ukrainian champion previously stated that he prefers to win on points rather than by KO
Oleksandr Usyk struggled to watch Anthony Joshua’s brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou earlier this month.
Joshua knocked Ngannou down for the first time in his career in the first round before putting him back on the canvas early in the second round.
The fight was over when Joshua floored Ngannou with a powerful right hand in the second round, with the former UFC fighter unable to get back to his feet after the knockout.
WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Usyk was presented with a laptop this week to rewatch the fight during a taping with DAZN.
The Ukrainian said nothing but made funny faces, suggesting he felt uncomfortable watching the fight again.
Anthony Joshua defeated Francis Ngannou in just two rounds with an explosive knockout
Oleksandr Usyk made some funny faces as he struggled to rewatch the fight
After watching Joshua’s first knockout, Usyk closed the laptop to avoid seeing the brutal knockout that followed moments later.
The 37-year-old did not explain his reaction, but has expressed his preference in the past to beat opponents on points rather than by knockout.
When asked why he didn’t knock Joshua out in their first fight of 2021, Usyk replied: ‘Why are you so bloodthirsty?
“There is a victory, everything is fine. Why is it necessary for someone to fall?
‘He has a father and mother. This is a big part of health when someone falls. I’m not for that.’
Usyk will finally face Tyson Fury in the ring on May 18 as part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh season to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
He could meet Joshua for a third time if he manages to defeat the Gypsy King.