Oleksandr Usyk took Anthony Joshua's WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in September 2021, in only his third fight at heavyweight, and beat him again in Jeddah in August 2022.
Usyk leads 2–0. This page covers both fights round by round, Joshua's emotional reaction to the rematch, a statistical comparison and our verdict.
Head-to-head record
Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua: Usyk 2–0. Every big-event meeting between the two, oldest first.
| # | Date | Event | Venue | Match | Result | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 25, 2021 | Joshua vs. Usyk | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London | WBA, IBF & WBO heavyweight titles | Oleksandr Usyk won | Unanimous decision (117–112, 116–112, 115–113) |
| 2 | Aug 20, 2022 | Rage on the Red Sea | King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah | WBA, IBF & WBO heavyweight titles | Oleksandr Usyk won | Split decision (115–113, 116–112 Usyk; 113–115 Joshua) |
Every match: our commentary
Joshua vs. Usyk · Sep 25, 2021
Joshua chose to box rather than use his size, and Usyk out-boxed him. Usyk hurt him with a left hand in the third, closed his right eye and finished the fight trying to stop him in the 12th.
Rage on the Red Sea · Aug 20, 2022
Joshua fought more aggressively and had his best rounds in the middle of the fight, especially the ninth when he hurt Usyk to the body. Usyk responded with a big tenth round and controlled the end. Two judges scored it for Usyk.
The backstory
Joshua was the unified champion and a British superstar; Usyk had been undisputed cruiserweight champion. The first fight was meant to be a stepping stone toward an all-British fight with Tyson Fury.
After the rematch, Joshua threw two of the belts out of the ring and gave a long, emotional speech on the microphone.
Tale of the tape
| Oleksandr Usyk | Anthony Joshua | |
|---|---|---|
| Height / reach | 6 ft 3 in · 78 in | 6 ft 6 in · 82 in |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Olympic gold | 2012, heavyweight | 2012, super heavyweight |
| Record after the rematch | 20–0 | 24–3 |
| Heavyweight titles | Undisputed (2024) | Two-time unified champion |
By the numbers
| Head-to-head stat | Oleksandr Usyk | Anthony Joshua |
|---|---|---|
| Wins vs. each other | 2 | 0 |
| Judges' cards won | 5 of 6 | 1 of 6 |
| Rounds boxed together | 24 | 24 |
How fans and critics reacted
The first fight was regarded as a clear Usyk win. The rematch was praised as a much better performance by Joshua, but his post-fight outburst dominated the headlines.
Both fights confirmed Usyk as the best heavyweight in the world at the time.
Our take
Usyk, 2–0, and both were deserved. Joshua's improvement in the rematch was real, but Usyk still won the championship rounds both times.
Our view: Joshua's best performance came in a loss, which says everything about how good Usyk was.
Our verdict: Oleksandr Usyk.
FAQ
How many times did Usyk beat Joshua?
Twice: a unanimous decision in London in September 2021 and a split decision in Jeddah in August 2022.
What did Joshua do after the Usyk rematch?
He threw two of the belts out of the ring and gave a long, emotional speech on the microphone.
More rivalries
Sources: Wikipedia: Anthony Joshua vs. Oleksandr Usyk · Wikipedia: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II. Facts verified Oct 18, 2026.