22 December 2024 , 07:03
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An inspired Oleksandr Usyk successfully retained his heavyweight world titles and further cemented his legendary status with a unanimous points victory over Tyson Fury in a compelling rematch.
Usyk, defending his WBA, WBO and WBC belts, was the more reserved of the two fighters in the opening exchanges but battled back emphatically in the closing rounds to keep his 100 per cent career record intact.
All three judges scored the contest 116-112 in favour of Usyk, with Fury left visibly stunned as he was consigned to only the second defeat of his professional career.
‘I win, it’s good. I win, thank you God,’ the unbeaten Usyk said shortly after his triumph was confirmed to a packed-out Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Seven months on from Usyk’s initial win by split decision, Fury, 36, weighing in at a career-heaviest 281lbs, started on the front foot with an aggressive approach in the opening round.
But Usyk, 37, stood strong after a flurry of well-worked body shots from Fury and snuck through a clinical left jab on the Brit’s jaw, with the two fighters setting the tone early on.
A cagey second round exploded as Usyk was shaken by a powerful Fury shot at the death, before the Ukrainian responded well in the third, seemingly unmoved by the Gypsy King’s early dominance.
Fury started aggressively in the opening round (Picture: Reuters)
all three judges scored the fight 116-112 in Usyk’s favour (Picture: Getty)
With blood coming from Usyk’s nose, Fury’s jab continued to test the defence of his veteran opponent before the two rivals exchanged a pair of enormous blows in a breathless finish to the fourth round.
In the fifth, the towering Fury appeared to be making serious inroads with some intelligent combinations to the body and it was more of the same in the sixth, before Usyk caught the Briton with a thumping left hand.
Forced to dig deep and sensing blood, Usyk had yet more success with his left in the ninth and Fury appeared to be breathing far heavier as the lightning pace of the bout took its toll.
Usyk successfully defended his WBA, WBO and WBC titles (Picture: Getty)
The momentum was firmly in Usyk’s favour in a one-sided eighth round, with Fury sporting a nasty bruise under his right eye, though the latter rallied strongly in the ninth, working the body once again.
The championship rounds did not disappoint as Usyk stalked his prey and tested the larger man’s resolve with his ever-dependable left across an absorbing tenth.
An ice-cold Usyk prowled with increasing swagger as the 11th round wore on, wobbling Fury with a huge left to the temple as the Manchester-born fighter sought a knockout punch – which never came – in the dying moments.
Dubois stepped into the ring after Usyk’s victory (Picture: Getty)
After he was declared the winner, Usyk thanked ‘great fighter’ Fury for 24 ‘unbelievable’ rounds of heavyweight boxing.
Asked how he manages to come on so strong in the final rounds of his fights, Usyk replied: ‘I don’t know, maybe I am training. My wife helps me, my children. My two sons have won judo belts. My son said, “Papa, you next!”
‘He’s a great fighter, he is a great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much.
‘I devote this to her [his mother] and all mothers of Ukraine.’
Frank Warren revealed Fury was ‘very disappointed’ by the judges’ scores and claimed ‘everyone’ beside him ringside felt similarly.
‘How come Tyson only got four rounds in this fight? It’s impossible,’ the Queensbury Promotions chief said.
‘He’s very disappointed as I am as well. Everyone along the front [of the ring] thought it was all the same way.’
Asked what is next for Fury, Warren replied: ‘It’s up to him. It’s just after a fight and emotions are running high. It’s nuts. Did you only give him four rounds out of eight? I don’t get it.
‘I’m really disappointed. We’ll have to see what happens in the future for Tyson. I thought he was in control, boxed really well and had Usyk on his back foot.’