Boxing

Damning stats reveal Joshua’s low punch accuracy and Usyk’s total dominance after AJ loses titles in shock defeat

Published

26th September 2021

OLEKSANDR USYK triumphed over Anthony Joshua as he outboxed his opponent in every department.

Punch stats show Usyk, 34, was in control throuhout the 12 rounds despite British judge Howard Foster scoring AJ ahead after eight rounds.

Oleksandr Usyk was a lot more efficient than Anthony Joshua with his jab

Usyk also made good use of his overhand left to wear down Joshua

The Ukrainian landed 148 punches to AJ’s 123

But it was Usyk who landed more punches, bigger punches, and it was the Ukrainian who was more efficient with his shots.

AJ failed to use his height and weight advantage early on to impose himself on Usyk.

Instead, it was Usyk who landed the big early punches and then came into the ascendency late on.

He could have floored AJ in the 12th with a barrage of shots, landing a total of 29 punches in the final round – the most the Brit has ever faced in a single round.

Despite the reach disadvantage, Usyk was more effective with his jab, landing 52 out of the 309 he threw – or 17 per cent.

Joshua landed the same number but had over a hundred more attempts than his opponent with 427.

But AJ threw less power punches – 214 compared to Usyk’s 220 – and landed just 71 to the Ukrainian’s 96.

It is little surprise it was Joshua hanging on by the end, with the 31-year-old landing just 33 per cent of his punches to Usyk’s 44 per cent.

After a shaky start Joshua found his way into the fight but rarely troubled his opponent, despite throwing 641 punches in total.

Usyk was more careful with his shot selection and countered Joshua well using his southpaw style, and landed 148 punches from 529 – 25 more than the Brit managed.