Oleksandr Usyk's bruised face after beating Tyson Fury in stark contrast to Anthony Joshua fight

Oleksandr Usyk's bruised and battered face highlighted the stark contrast between his fights with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

Last Saturday, Usyk was crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. The strategic bout with the Gypsy King took a dramatic turn in the ninth round when a powerful flurry from Usyk sent Fury tumbling into the ropes, resulting in a crucial knockdown.

The fight ended in a split decision victory for Usyk, marking Fury's first career defeat and boosting Usyk's record to an impressive 22-0. However, the win didn't come without its costs, with Fury alleging that his opponent had been hospitalised with a broken jaw.

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Usyk's promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has since refuted this claim, stating that 'The Cat' merely experienced some discomfort in his upper jaw and had gone to the hospital for a routine post-fight check-up. Nevertheless, the injuries Usyk sustained were far more visible following his clash with Fury than after his second victory over another British heavyweight titan, Joshua.

A selfie shared by the Kiev-born boxer on social media after the Fury fight showed significant bruising on his cheekbones and under his eyes, as well as a cut above his right eye. His knuckles also bore deep cuts, despite the photo being taken two days post-fight, reports the Mirror.

Usyk appeared to have sustained less facial damage in his fight against AJ back in August 2022, which also took place in Saudi Arabia. He was seen at the post-fight press conference with minimal facial bruising, except for under one of his eyes.

This marked Usyk's second victory over Joshua. Their initial encounter in September 2021 resulted in Usyk stripping AJ of his titles with a decisive unanimous decision win, despite suffering significant facial injuries.

Their rematch ended in a split decision, with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 113-115 favouring the Ukrainian. However, Joshua's less aggressive strategy meant that Usyk emerged with fewer injuries, while a disheartened Joshua was seen shedding tears at their press conference after losing his third fight.

Fury and Usyk are scheduled for another showdown in Saudi Arabia in October, where Fury will attempt to redeem his only loss. The victor is anticipated to face Joshua in early 2025, although if Usyk decides to retire, it could pave the way for a long-awaited clash between the two former British champions.