Usyk defeats Fury in unanimous decision to retain 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 evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Judges Gerardo Martinez, Patrick Morley and Ignacio Robles had identical scorecards in favor of Usyk, 116-112.
Usyk landed 179 of the 423 (42 percent) punches thrown, while Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) landed only 144 of the 509 punches he threw, a 28 percent margin.
When asked if he agreed with the judges’ scores, Usyk indicated that it was not his job to ask questions, but just to box. “I win, it’s good,” Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) said. “Not my deal. I win. Thank you, God.”
The highly anticipated rematch following a bout in May in which Fury suffered his first defeat lived up to the hype from the moment the boxers entered the arena.
Usyk’s team called on the Middle East Professional Boxing Commission during Friday’s rules meeting to trim Fury’s beard ahead of their joint rematch for the heavyweight championship.
Less than a week before Christmas, he sported a beard as thick as Santa’s, but the 36-year-old strolled there unshaven and in a bright red Christmas robe with Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” on his walk there.
After Fury opened the fight at a fairly quick pace and controlled the first two rounds, Usyk responded in the third and fourth rounds by working the body and occasionally executing power combinations to the head.
Fury landed several big shots in the fifth round, but Usyk’s left hand was the bomb in the sixth, staggering his taller and taller opponent twice.
It became clear in the second half of the fight that carrying the extra weight was wearing down Fury as the pace began to catch up to him while Usyk’s calm and patient approach favored him. Usyk’s ability to penetrate, strike quickly and damage Fury with piercing combinations made the difference.
Feeling the pressure, a spirited Fury emerged in the 10th round and harassed Usyk throughout the round. Usyk held him back at times with a steady jab while an uppercut from Fury arrived late.
Usyk’s speed came back to life in the 11th minute, landing stunning combinations to Fury’s head to keep him at bay.
The two exchanged violent blows in the final round. Fury was hoping to make one final impression on the judges while Usyk was looking for an exclamation point.
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, announced on X (formerly Twitter) earlier this week that an experimental AI judge would also announce results. Usyk won the innovative virtual system 118-112.
Fury, who is now 5-1 in rematches, left the ring immediately after the result was announced but later told reporters in the locker room: “I thought I won it by at least three rounds. “I dominated the fight. “
At the press conference, with an injured right eye, he added: “I thought I won both fights, but then again I have two losses on my record now, so there’s not much I can do about it.
“I can just fight with my heart and soul and do my best. But I will always believe until the day I die that I won this fight.”
Only three belts were at stake this time after the IBF stripped Usyk for failing to face mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois.
Dubois interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview, grabbed the microphone and called for a rematch of their fight on August 26, 2023. Usyk won by ninth-round knockout.
“I want my revenge, Usyk,” Dubois said. “Well done tonight, but I want my revenge.”
Usyk obeyed by telling the powers that be present: “Your Excellency, let me fight with Daniel. Thank you.”
