Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman watches Usyk beat Joshua - in pictures

Ukrainian calls out Tyson Fury after retaining heavyweight title by split decision in Jeddah

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the heavyweight clash between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, August 20, 2022. Royal Court of Saudi Arabia / Getty

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the "Rage on the Red Sea" heavyweight world title rematch between Oleksandr Usyk Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah. Royal Court of Saudi Arabia / Getty

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, second right, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah on Saturday night. Getty

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with Fifa president Gianni Infantino during the match between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua in Jeddah. AFP

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua. AFP

Oleksandr Usyk of Ukraine celebrates after beating Britain's Anthony Joshua in their heavyweight world title rematch at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah. Getty

Fans at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Getty

Britain's Anthony Joshua fought valiantly against Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk. AFP

Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua by split decision to retain his WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF titles. Getty

Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk celebrates his win on Saturday. AP

Anthony Joshua lands a punch against Oleksandr Usyk. Reuters

Former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in Jeddah. Getty

Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk showed why he is considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world as he won his rematch against Anthony Joshua by split decision in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Usyk was the favourite to defeat his British challenger at the King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah, having dominated Joshua in their previous clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year.

On Saturday, Usyk, 35, faced an improved Joshua but outboxed him once again to retain his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles.

"I give this victory to my country, to my family, to my team and to all the military who are defending the country," Usyk said after win the "Rage on the Red Sea" bout.

He then turned his attention to rival heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, who announced his latest retirement earlier this month but has signalled his willingness to resume his career.

Victory over Fury would unite all four heavyweight belts and make Usyk the undisputed champion.

"I'm sure that Tyson Fury is not retired yet," Usyk said. "I'm convinced he wants to fight me. I want to fight him. If I'm not fighting Tyson Fury I'm not fighting at all."

His opponent, however, had a meltdown after the match. Joshua first hurled two of Usyk's belts to the canvas, left the ring and headed for the dressing room before turning around and stepping back into the arena to address the crowd in an expletive-laden speech.

"I just spoke from my heart. It has been so tough. You see AJ holding it together. I'm a hustler, so I try to keep things together, try work hard. Make sure my team is good," Joshua said in the presence of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

"It comes at a cost. It would never break me but it takes real strength and tonight there's a little crack in the armour."

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