By our Reporter
In a thrilling rematch, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury with a unanimous decision, earning scores of 116-112 from all three judges.
The victory handed Fury his second consecutive loss, following their previous bout in May. Usyk, who was relentless with his left hook and controlled the pace of the fight, extends his perfect record to 23-0 with 14 knockouts.
The 37-year-old Ukrainian, already an undisputed cruiserweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, had previously made history by becoming the first four-belt heavyweight champion in May. This time, only the WBA, WBO, and WBC titles were on the line, as Usyk relinquished his IBF belt to avoid facing challenger Daniel Dubois.Usyk spoke highly of Fury, calling him a “great fighter” and a tough opponent who “makes me strong.”
Fury, now 34-2-1, was clearly disappointed, stating that he felt he won both of their fights. He refused to discuss his future plans, leaving the question of retirement open. Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, criticized the judges’ decision as “nuts,” but Usyk dismissed his complaints humorously, saying, “Uncle Frank, I think is blind… crazy man.”The bout had its moments of intense back-and-forth action. Fury, using his jab and weight advantage, held Usyk at bay early, landing a heavy right in round two. But Usyk grew into the fight, landing clean shots and controlling the latter rounds. In the 11th, a stunning combination rocked Fury, and Usyk capped the final round with an uppercut to his chin, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
Usyk’s victory was hailed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who praised Usyk’s triumph as a symbol of Ukraine’s resilience amidst the ongoing war with Russia.The fight, which saw a prize purse of $190 million, also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in global sports.
