RIYADH (Saudi Arabia): Oleksandr Usyk (pic) defeated Tyson Fury in their heavyweight championship rematch by unanimous decision, maintaining his unbeaten record and solidifying his place among boxing’s greats.
The Ukrainian champion, who consistently controlled the pace of the fight and landed precise left hooks, was awarded the victory with a 116-112 score by all three judges.
Usyk, now 23-0 with 14 knockouts, further cemented his illustrious career, which includes an Olympic gold medal and being the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Although only the WBA, WBO, and WBC titles were at stake after Usyk relinquished his IBF belt to avoid a bout with Daniel Dubois, his win over Fury in May had already made him the undisputed heavyweight champion, marking a historic moment in the four-belt era.
Fury, whose record now stands at 34-2-1, was gracious but dissatisfied with the outcome, claiming Usyk had received a “Christmas gift” from the judges.
The 36-year-old, who had announced his retirement in 2022 before returning to the ring, felt the decision was unjust. “I feel a little bit hard done by, actually a lot,” Fury said, expressing his belief that he had won the fight.
Promoter Frank Warren echoed Fury’s sentiment, calling the decision “nuts” and suggesting that Fury would take time to decide whether to retire or continue fighting.
“Emotions are running high,” Warren said. “We’ll see what happens in the future for Tyson.”
The outcome leaves Fury’s future uncertain, while Usyk continues to reign as one of boxing’s finest. –AFP
