Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua round by round: How Ukrainian retained heavyweight crown in thrilling split decision

OLEKSANDR USYK successfully defended his world heavyweight titles with a split decision victory over Anthony Joshua.

The Ukrainian, 35, produced another majestic boxing display to clinch a second win in 11 months over the Brit.

The three judges scored the fight 115-113 Joshua, 115-113 Usyk and 116-112 Usyk.

But most felt the Ukrainian did more than enough to secure the victory and retain his heavyweight belts.

Here is how SunSport's Dylan Terry saw it unfold round by round.

Round 1

Usyk comes out bouncing around, bobbing and weaving as a measured Joshua steps out for the opening exchanges.

It's the Ukrainian who circles the challenger with his sensational footwork, but both men are simply feeling each other out at this point.

Lovely jab pierces the guard of Usyk, before Joshua fires back with some nice bodywork.

AJ roughhouses Usyk in the clinch inside the final 30 seconds - a sign of that manhandling which many people wanted to seem from him.

Positive start from the champion. 10-9 Usyk.

Round 2

AJ clearly trying to work the body in the early stages. Not much between them so far as Usyk's jab looks on point.

Nice left hook from Joshua digs into the ribs of Usyk and the challenger follows it up with a neat one-two.

Lovely jab from Usyk gets Joshua's attention once more - the Ukrainian responding when he needs to.

Really good bodywork from Joshua again as the round comes to a close. That is definitely the tactic from the Brit's corner.

Very tough round to score and probably an even one at that. 20-19 Usyk.

Round 3

Usyk's movement truly is something to behold. His head is never ever still and as a result Joshua cannot find any accuracy upstairs.

Her tries to work the body again before moving in for a clinch but Usyk is aware and wriggles out before planting a left hand straight down the pipe of the challenger.

A cagey round which the Ukrainian takes. 30-28 Usyk.

Round 4

Joshua is falling short with a lot of his punches. Usyk has measured the distance to perfection so far.

A sharp straight right clips the top of AJ's head but the Brit is unmoved.

Joshua definitely appears to be playing a patient game, not rushing any of his work. But he is being picked off by the quicker, smarter champion.

AJ tries to land a huge uppercut inside the final 30 seconds but misses by some distance.

Usyk finishes with a lovely left which puts Joshua back on his haunches.

Another three minutes in the bag for the world champion. 40-37 Usyk.

Round 5

Joshua's feet are simply too slow at the moment. Usyk is out of range before AJ gets anywhere close.

OH HANG ON! Joshua hits Usyk on the waistband and the Ukrainian then limps off in pain!

The referee stops the action for a good 20 seconds and a bit of confusion ensues around the arena. Didn't look like a low blow.

The referee stops the action for a good 20 seconds and a bit of confusion ensues around the arena.

We are back underway and Joshua unloads. Something may be wrong with Usyk!

The champion composes himself and gets back to bouncing on his feet for the remainder of the round. But is that a turning point in the fight? Has AJ's bodywork got to the Ukrainian?

Best round for Joshua so far. 49-47 Usyk.

Round 6

The replays show that the shot to the body was borderline from Joshua - it hit the waistline of Usyk and was arguably a bit low. The referee must have deemed it to be so or he wouldn't have stopped to allow Usyk to recover.

Back we go to the action and round six. Has Usyk recovered?

Joshua looking to command the action a bit more now as he drives a right hand down the pipe and narrowly misses the target, Usyk comes back with a sharp hook.

Joshua backs Usyk up against the ropes and has some success with a combination but the champion works his way out of the tight spot with some lovely footwork.

Another close round. Joshua didn't land enough though. Usyk takes it. 59-56 Usyk.

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Round 7

Usyk leads on my scorecard heading into the second half of the fight but this is a closely-fought contest.

Joshua definitely more aggressive in the last couple of rounds but is still yet to land much of significance.

Nice jab squeezes through from the champion. This is a brilliant three minutes from Usyk as he stems the flow of some AJ momentum by making him miss and pay.

Usyk lands a nice right hook which moves into an uppercut as the bell goes.

Some really nice shots from Usyk to the body and head. 69-65 Usyk.

Round 8

The referee calls a time out 20 seconds in as the canvas needs a clean - it's been slippery all night.

Nice right uppercut to the body from Joshua, but Usyk's bodywork continues to be the more impressive.

There's a great left hand to the body from AJ though! Usyk felt that one for sure!

Joshua struggling to follow up his success with any combinations. Usyk is able to reset and measure the distance once more.

Another one-two to the body rifles into Usyk's body. Much better work from Joshua.

A good round for the challenger who treats himself to a wry smile inside the final 10 seconds. 78-75 Usyk.

Round 9

Usyk is so good at stalling Joshua's momentum whenever AJ has some spots of success.

There's a couple of nice head shots which get through and Usyk has to hold!

Joshua is going for the finish all of a sudden! Combinations from AJ and how on earth is Usyk still standing?!

Huge round from AJ. His best of the fight. He now has to make this count! 87-85 Usyk.

Round 10

Usyk has comeout looking fresher than ever! The man is made of steel and Joshua has used up all his energy in that enslaught in the previous round.

The champion fires huge shots at the head of AJ and the Brit is all over the place. His legs are like jelly but somehow he is still standing.

Usyk looks for the finish now but Joshua comes back with a brilliant right which shakes the Ukrainian to his boots!

Incredible action as Joshua walks back to the ropes and Usyk senses the end is near.

As AJ walks forward Usyk lands three, four, five shots as a weary-looking Joshua eats them up with the body language of a tired, beaten man. Round nine may well have been his best chance.

Wonderful stuff from the champion. 97-94 Usyk.

Round 11

Usyk schools Joshua with some wonderful movement in the first 90 seconds of the round - making the champion miss and then making him pay.

AJ eventually manages to back Usyk up against the ropes but can't land anything of substance as the champion takes a couple of body shots on the arms.

The angles Usyk creates really are something to behold. He is constantly outside the line of AJ who does not have the movement to counteract him.

A clear round for the champion. Joshua has three minutes to find an unlikely knockout. 107-103 Usyk.

Round 12

Nice body shot from Joshua to start the final round. If he is going to go down, he may as well go down swinging.

Lovely left hook-right hand combination from AJ and Usyk has to hold! But Joshua then almost tumbles to the canvas while trying to grapple the champion.

Usyk fires back with some wonderful combination punching and Joshua's tank is empty now, he has put everything into this but it's simply not enough.

Usyk takes the final round and clearly wins the fight. A truly majestic display from the Ukrainian.

SunSport's final scorecard: 117-112 Usyk.