The three judges scored the bout all in Usyk’s favour 117-112, 116-112, 115-113.
Oleksandr Usyk really gave a good account of himself, as his well-mapped strategy took the Nigerian-born boxer by surprise and left his face badly bruised.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn said his fighter may have suffered a broken eye socket.
‘When he lost in New York everyone started analysing the dressing room, the ring walk,’ Hearn said.
‘He was fine, he was maybe a little too relaxed on the ring walk, he was shaking everyone’s hand, he was hugging a few people that is just AJ but I feel it was the wrong type of performance.
‘Sometimes you have to use your attributes.
‘[Joshua] never really got going, he will go to hospital now, I don’t know if he has broken his eye socket, it doesn’t look great.’
Joshua now has 30 days to activate a rematch clause which will most likely take place in Usyk’s home.