Oleksandr Usyk remained undefeated when he efficiently defended his undisputed heavyweight belt with a unanimous choice over Tyson Fury on Saturday night time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Judges Gerardo Martinez, Patrick Morley and Ignacio Robles had similar scorecards in favour of Usyk, 116-112.
Usyk landed 179 of the 423 (42 p.c) punches thrown, whereas Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) landed simply 144 of the 509 punches he threw, a 28 p.c clip.
Requested if he agreed with the judges’ scores, Usyk implied that it was not his place to query, solely to field. “I win, it’s good,” mentioned Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs). “Not my deal. I win. Thanks, God.”
The extremely anticipated rematch from a Might bout during which Fury suffered his first loss lived as much as the hype from the second the boxers entered the sector.
Usyk’s staff requested the Center East Skilled Boxing Fee throughout Friday’s guidelines assembly to mandate that Fury trim his beard forward of their unified heavyweight championship rematch.
He had a beard as burly as Santa Claus lower than every week earlier than Christmas, however the 36-year-old sauntered in unshaven and donning a vivid pink Christmas-themed gown with Mariah Carey’s All I Need for Christmas is You accompanying his stroll to the ring.
After Fury opened the battle with a somewhat fast tempo and managed the primary two rounds, Usyk responded within the third and fourth rounds by working the physique whereas slipping in occasional energy mixtures to the top.
Fury landed a number of large pictures within the fifth spherical, however Usyk’s left hand was the story within the sixth, staggering his greater and taller opponent twice.
Within the second half of the battle, it grew to become obvious that carrying the additional weight was sporting Fury down, because the tempo started to catch as much as him whereas Usyk’s calm and affected person strategy favoured him. Usyk’s means to get inside, strike shortly and harm Fury with stinging mixtures was the distinction.
Feeling the strain, a spirited Fury got here out swinging within the tenth, bullying Usyk all through the spherical. Usyk held him off at occasions with a gentle jab, whereas an uppercut from Fury scored late.
Usyk’s velocity got here to life once more within the eleventh, touchdown blistering mixtures to Fury’s head to maintain him at bay.
The 2 traded flurries of punches within the closing spherical, Fury hoping to make one closing impression on the judges whereas Usyk was in search of an exclamation level.
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s Basic Leisure Authority, introduced on X (previously Twitter) earlier within the week that an experimental AI decide would additionally return outcomes. The modern digital system has Usyk successful, 118-112.
Fury, who’s now 5-1 in rematches, left the ring instantly after the outcome was introduced, however later instructed reporters within the dressing room space: “I assumed I gained it by no less than three rounds. I bossed the battle.”
Talking within the press convention, sporting a bruised proper eye, he added: “I assumed I’ve gained each fights, however then once more I’ve obtained two losses on my file now, so there’s not a lot I can do about it.
“I can simply battle me coronary heart out and do the most effective I can. However I’ll at all times imagine till the day I die that I gained that battle.”
Solely three belts had been on the road this time after the IBF stripped Usyk for not going through its obligatory challenger, Daniel Dubois.
Dubois interrupted Usyk’s post-fight interview, snatched the microphone and demanded a rematch from their battle on August 26, 2023. Usyk gained by knockout within the ninth spherical.
“I would like my revenge, Usyk,” Dubois mentioned. “Effectively accomplished tonight, however I would like my revenge.”
Usyk obliged by telling the powers that be in attendance: “Your Excellency, make me battle with Daniel. Thanks a lot.”
