Oleksandr Usyk bested Anthony Joshua for a second time, retaining his status as heavyweight champion.

Joshua’s search for redemption fell flat losing by split decision in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The 32-year-old missed the opportunity to regain his WBA, WBO and IBF titles Usyk had taken from him when the pair met in Tottenham 11 months ago, with two judges scoring the fight 115-113 and 116-112 to Usyk and the third 115-113 to Joshua.

Following the decision, Joshua grabbed two of the heavyweight championship belts dumping them over the side of the ropes.

After storming off towards the changing room, he returned to the ring and grabbed the microphone to deliver an controversial impassioned speech.

“Usyk is one hell of a fighter. That’s just emotion,” he said. “If you knew my story, you’d understand the passion. I’m not an amateur boxer. I was going to jail and I got bail and I started training.

“It shows the passion we put into this. For this guy to beat me tonight, it shows the levels of hard work he must have put in, so please give him a round of applause as heavyweight champion of world,”

“They said that I’m not a 12-round fighter. I ain’t 14 stone, I’m 18 stone, I’m heavy. It’s hard work. This guy here is phenomenal.”

Joshua however is already planning a spectacular return aiming to be back in the ring in November or December.

“I will become three-time world heavyweight champion,” he said.