Anthony Joshua has shared 24 rounds of boxing with Oleksandr Usyk, losing two points decisions.

The Brit first put his unified titles on the line in 2021 and failed to win them back in a rematch a year later. Usyk then went on to defend against Daniel Dubois, ‘AJ’s next opponent.

Speaking to Box Nation about ‘Dynamite’ Dubois’ efforts, Joshua said he performed ‘phenomenally.’

“Phenomenal performance against one of the best of our generation. He done really well to go up against him and push Oleksandr Usyk in certain ways. Usyk is a good opponent.

I think where Daniel struggled is he was southpaw and he couldn’t get his jab off, which is one of his main weapons, and his right hand off. A southpaw, they’re a bit further back cause the stance is different. You have to kind of counter with the right hand and Daniel couldn’t get his main weapons off.”

Usyk won the Dubois bout by stoppage in the ninth and largely controlled the action save for a moment in the fifth when Dubois, 26, went to the body and dropped the champ.

It was immediately ruled low by the referee and Usyk was given the full five minutes to recover. Post-fight it would be a huge controversy, with an official petition lodged on Dubois’ behalf to overturn the result or order a rematch. The WBA did neither and stood by referee Luis Pabon’s decision.

Pushed on how he ruled the shot, Joshua said he saw it as legal.

“Probably legal. It’s a fight – you get hit. You get hit round the belt, hit round the leg. I think it is what it is, he got hit and went down. Legal.”

The Ukrainian looked unable to stand following the shot, although there has been the argument made that, if the shot wasn’t ruled low, his efforts would have looked different.

He has since become undisputed by beating Tyson Fury but vacated the IBF belt and ‘gifted’ it to Dubois, previously the Interim Champion, who now makes his first defence against Joshua on September 21.