Anthony Joshua threw two of Oleksandr Usyk's belts to the ground before grabbing the microphone to launch into a lengthy diatribe after losing their rematch tonight.
The two-time former world heavyweight champion was beaten by split decision in the pair's second fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and was clearly enraged by the decision. Joshua performed much better than their first meeting in September of last year, but was matched by a legendary showing from Usyk on the night.
The Brit initially showed respect to his rival before storming out of the ring, only to return and insist on speaking in a WWE-style promo. Joshua forced Sky Sports commentator Adam Smith into making a number of apologies for coarse language during a lengthy rant after taking the microphone.
He insisted that he was a "new breed" of heavyweight and appeared to insult legends like Mike Tyson and Sonny Liston before strangely deciding to revert to his friendly self and congratulate the champion. Fans blasted Joshua's speech as "embarrassing" on social media after the fact.
"Usyk is one hell of a f***ing fighter, let's give him a round of applause," Joshua said before launching into a foul-mouthed tirade. "Sorry guys, look, if you knew my story you'd understand the passion. I ain't no f***ing amateur boxer from five-years-old, I wasn't an elite prospect from youth, bro, I was going to jail.
"I seen some youths in Reading jail, I got bail and I started training my a*** off. Because if I got sentenced I wouldn't be able to fight. I bust my case, my cousin, where's he at? G14. I'm stealing this Usyk, I'm sorry but it's because of the f***ing passion we've put into this s***, man.
"Guys I'm telling you, this guy to beat me tonight, maybe I could have done better but it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in. So please give him a round of applause as our heavyweight champion of the world.
What did you make of Anthony Joshua's speech tonight after losing to Oleksandr Usyk? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
"I'm not a 12 round fighter? Look at me, I'm a new breed of heavyweight, all them heavyweights; Mike Tyson, Sonny Liston, Jack Dempsey - they say 'he doesn't throw combinations like Rocky Marciano,' because I'm not f***ing 14-stone, that's why, I'm 18-stone I'm heavy.
"It's hard work, this guy here is a phenomenal talent, we're going to cheer for him three times. Well how many belts have you got now bro, five? As I said, I was studying Ukraine and all of the champions that have come from your amazing country, I've never been there but at the same time what's happening there is not nice.
"I saw it with [Vasily] Lomachenko in your second fight with Orlando [Salido] there was unrest in Ukraine, there was civil war. Vitali Klitschko when he faced Danny Williams, civil unrest - under them circumstances, Usyk has managed to become champion. Champ champ! I just want to say: Bismillah."
