Judge Glenn Feldman controversially scored Anthony Joshua as the winner against Oleksandr Usyk in the heavyweight rematch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Reporters confronted the American judge after the match, demanding an explanation.
British boxer Joshua suffered a split-decision loss. With the win, Ukraine’s Usyk retained his world heavyweight titles. The 35-year-old currently holds tha WBA, WBO and IBF belts six months after serving in the Ukrainian army as part of the country’s defense against Russia’s invasion.
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After the mega-bout, the judges’ scores were revealed. England’s Steve Gray went 115-113 for Usyk, Ukraine’s Victor Fesechko fairly called it 116-112 in his compatriot’s favour. However, Feldman scored the game 115-113 in Joshua’s advantage.
Online media outlet ID Boxing confronted Feldman after the game. Reporter Rob Tebbutt asked, “How did you score that fight for Anthony Joshua, Glenn?”
Feldman responded, “Just the way I did.”
He further said, “I can’t, you’d have to talk to my supervisor.” Feldman then did not answer any further questions.
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Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn later admitted that the British boxer lost to Oleksandr Usyk “by two rounds”.
Hearn told iFL TV, “Buncey [Steve Bunce] had Joshua up, a few people had Joshua up. I felt he lost by two rounds but when it’s 115-113, it’s the swing of one or two rounds and you can see it the other way.”
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“I had AJ level or maybe up at the end of the ninth but Usyk winning the last three rounds. I thought he was incredible and it was one of the great performances. The ninth, Usyk was all over the place. He was hurt badly. He looked like he could be done. What he did in the 10th was unbelievable and that’s why he was pound-for-pound No 1. The amount of punches he threw in the 10th was incredible. I just couldn’t believe what he did in the championship rounds.”