Two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua admits that his right eye was giving him issues, starting with the ninth round.

In the late stages of the fight, Joshua's eye began to rapidly swell in his mandatory defense against Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Usyk put on a performance of a lifetime, as he outboxed Joshua over twelve rounds to capture the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles with a unanimous decision. 

The former undisputed cruiserweight champion closed the fight in style, as he began to land punishing shots in the championship rounds and had Joshua in serious trouble in the final seconds of the twelfth round.

Joshua will now pursue a rematch, likely to take place in the first half of 2022.

"I can't go back and sulk - that's wasting time," Joshua said.

"I couldn't see in the ninth round, couldn't see anything really because my eye was shut.

"It was a good experience because in adversity you've just got to learn to control yourself, stay on top of things, so when I couldn't see anything - it's the first time that it's happened in a fight."

Joshua is now ready to go back into camp to better himself for a second fight.

“I’m ready to get back to training. It was a good twelve rounder, so I’ll be in a good place when I get back into training to pick up where we left off," Joshua said.