Usyk defeats Fury via unanimous points decision to retain the heavyweight title. boxing news
Oleksandr Usyk remained undefeated when he successfully defended his undisputed heavyweight belt with a unanimous decision over Tyson Fury on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Judges Gerardo Martínez, Patrick Morley and Ignacio Robles had identical scorecards in favor of Usyk, 116–112.
Usyk landed 179 of 423 punches thrown (42 percent), while Fury (34-2-1, 24 KO) landed only 144 of 509 punches thrown, a 28 percent clip.
When asked if he agreed with the judges’ scores, Usyk said it was not his place to question that, just boxing. “I won, it’s good,” Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) said. “It’s not my deal. I won. Thank God.”
The highly anticipated rematch of the May bout, in which Fury suffered his first defeat, was hyped from the moment the boxers entered the arena.
Usyk’s team requested the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission during Friday’s rules meeting to mandate Fury trim his beard before their unified heavyweight championship rematch.
His beard grew out to be as big as Santa Claus less than a week before Christmas, but the 36-year-old walked out unshaven and in a bright red Christmas-themed robe belting out Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ Who was walking with him. ring.
After Fury started the fight at a fast pace and controlled the first two rounds, Usyk responded by working to the body in the third and fourth rounds, while occasionally landing power combinations to the head.
Fury landed several big shots in the fifth round, but Usyk’s left hand became the story in the sixth round, stunning his bigger and taller opponent twice.
In the second half of the fight, it became clear that carrying the extra weight was wearing down Fury, as the pace began to match him while Usyk’s calm and patient approach favored him. The difference was Usyk’s ability to penetrate, attack quickly, and hurt Fury with stinging combinations.
Feeling the pressure, a fired-up Fury came out swinging in the 10th and bullied Usyk throughout the round. Usyk stopped him with a series of jabs, while Fury’s uppercuts scored late.
Usyk’s momentum revived in the 11th, landing powerful combinations to Fury’s head and putting him away.
The two traded a flurry of punches in the final round, with Fury hoping to make a final impression on the judges, while Usyk was looking for the exclamation point.
Turki Alalshaikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, announced on X (formerly Twitter) earlier in the week that an experimental AI judge would also return results. Usyk won 118-112 in the innovative virtual system.
Fury, who now leads the rematch 5–1, walked out of the ring immediately after the result was announced, but later told reporters in the dressing room area: “I thought I won it by at least three rounds. I led the fight.
Speaking at the press conference, with his right eye injured, he said: “I thought I had won both fights, but still I have two losses on my record now, so I don’t think much about it. can’t.
“I can just fight hard and do my best. But I will believe till my death that I have won that battle.
This time only three belts were at stake as the IBF removed Usyk due to his inability to face his mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
Dubois interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview, snatched the microphone and demanded a rematch from their fight on August 26, 2023. Usyk won by knockout in the ninth round.
Dubois said, “I want my revenge, Usyk.” “It went very well tonight, but I want my revenge.”
Usyk obliged the powers that be, saying: “Your Excellency, let me fight Daniel. thank you so much.”
