Heavyweight boxing champion, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury to retain his unified heavyweight world titles and prove his status as a generational great with another close points win in their rematch in Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning, December 22.
Having inflicted a first career defeat on Fury by split decision seven months ago, Usyk’s astuteness and will to win once again prevailed at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena – and he retained his WBA (Super), WBC and WBO titles.
Fury, 36, found success in the first half of the fight. Some of the more eye-catching shots came from the Morecambe fighter, but the volume of punches and cleaner work were from Ukrainian Usyk.
All three judges scored it 116-112 to the 37-year-old champion.
Usyk, an Olympic gold medallist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion, extended his undefeated record to 23 professional wins.
“He [Tyson Fury] is a great fighter, he is a great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said.
Two-time world champion Fury has only ever lost to Usyk, his two defeats were the major blemishes on a record consisting of 34 wins and one draw.
Fury left the ring without conducting an interview, before IBF world champion Daniel Dubois climbed in and called for a rematch with Usyk.
In a rematch billed as ‘reignited’, the sport’s two most technically gifted heavyweights served up another classic and showcased elite level boxing.
The Gypsy King was in playful mood with an unorthodox ring entrance to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I want for Christmas is You’.
Dressed as Father Christmas, he was still sporting the bushy beard which was cleared at a rules meeting despite protests from Usyk’s team.
A stern-faced Usyk marched to the ring in super-quick time. Wearing a warrior-like robe, he crouched in the corner to recite a prayer.
After a lengthy 11 minute face-off on Thursday, Fury and Usyk picked up where they left off; their eyes fixated on each other as met in the centre of the ring.
Neither man over-committed in a cagey opening round. Fury showboated his way through the first fight but there was more serious this time .
He wobbled Usyk in the closing seconds of the second.
With a six inch height, eight inch reach and four stone weight advantage, Fury used his physicality to keep Usyk at range.
But just as he did in the first fight, Usyk found success targeting Fury’s body.
At the halfway stage, the eye-catching shot had come from Fury, but the volume of punches from Usyk increased as he began to close the gap.
An overhand left connected cleanly Fury’s forehead in the sixth. Fury was slowing down and Usyk heading into his groove.
Team Fury suggested a lack of sparring due to an eye injury hampered his preparation for the first fight, and there was a definite improvement. He found a second wind to edge the ninth round.
It felt like it was all to play for in the championship rounds.
Usyk unleashed a sublime combination in the 11th round, With Fury momentarily hurt, the champion applied the pressure.
Fury looked the more desperate of the pair as Usyk finished the last round on top. Fury cut a frustrated figure after the result was announced , with all three judges scoring in Usyk‘s Favour .
With Usyk‘s win, Fury can now be regarded as the second best boxer of his generation while Usyk will now be regarded as the best heavyweight boxer of this generation.
