For the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, the victory of his compatriot and heavyweight world champion Alexander Usyk also has a highly symbolic effect.

“Difficult, but so important and necessary victory!

Defending the world title is a symbol that all those who belong to the Cossacks will not give up their title but will fight for it and will definitely win!” Zelenskyy tweeted, congratulating Usyk on his success over the former British champion Anthony Joshua.

The 35-year-old Usyk had prevailed against Joshua for the second time on Sunday night in the Superdome of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Usyk retained his belts from the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO associations after the narrow points judgment (115:113, 113:115, 116:112).

Joshua had lost his title to the then challenger in September 2021 in a points defeat at London's Tottenham Hotspur football stadium and now missed a revenge.

For the favorite Usyk it was the 20th victory in the 20th professional fight of his career.

For Usyk, too, the duel was more than just a boxing match, because it should also give his compatriots hope in a dark time of the war.

The boxer made it possible for the world championship fight in Ukraine to be followed free of charge on state television and in the live stream.

Usyk volunteered for a month in the war of aggression launched by Russia, but then, at the urging of his compatriots, decided to fight as a boxer again.

The excellent technician Usyk was able to make up for his physical disadvantages of ten centimeters less range on Sunday night and defeated Joshua again, who was seven centimeters taller.

Almost a year ago, Usyk gave the Brit a boxing lesson, and it was much more balanced in the second duel.

However, Joshua could not avoid his third defeat as a professional and should now face a difficult future.