Oleksandr Usyk refused to watch back Anthony Joshua‘s brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou from earlier this month.
Joshua knocked down Ngannou for the first time in his career in the first round before putting him on the canvas again early in the second.
The fight was over when Joshua put Ngannou to the floor for the third time with a powerful right hand in the second round, with the former UFC fighter unable to get back to his feet after the knockout.
WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight world champion Usyk was handed a laptop to watch back the fight during a filming with DAZN this week.
The Ukrainian did not say anything but was left grimacing as he cast his eye over Joshua’s dominant performance.
Anthony Joshua saw off Francis Ngannou in just two rounds with an explosive knockout
Oleksandr Usyk grimaced as he struggled to watch the fight on replay.
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Think @usykaa enjoyed that @anthonyjoshua knockout? 👀#FuryUsyk | May 18 | Live on DAZN worldwide pic.twitter.com/w7tiwgeuCF
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 15, 2024
After seeing Joshua knock down Ngannou for a second time, Usyk closed the laptop to avoid seeing the brutal knockout that followed moments later.
The 37-year-old didn’t explain his reaction but in the past expressed his preference of beating opponents on points instead of a knockout.
Asked why he didn’t knockout Joshua during their first bout in 2021, Usyk responded: ‘Why are you so bloodthirsty?
‘There is victory, everything is fine. Why is it necessary for a person to fall?
‘He has a mother and father. This is a big chunk of health if a person falls. I’m not for that.’
Usyk will finally meet Tyson Fury in the ring on May 18 as part of Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.
He could face Joshua for a third time if he succeeds in beating the Gypsy King.
