Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his unified heavyweight world titles by defeating Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated rematch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The match was the first loss of Fury’s career, and he immediately called for a rematch after the split decision victory.
Fury appeared to have made significant improvements from their initial meeting but struggled with Usyk’s relentless pressure as the fight wore on. As Usyk’s opponents tire, the Ukrainian seems to gain strength, allowing him to assert control in the later rounds. Usyk landed 179 of 423 punches thrown, a higher percentage than Fury’s 144 of 509.
Despite losing, Fury maintained he had won both fights and expressed frustration with the judges’ decision. He attributed his performance to “Christmas spirit” and claimed Usyk did not hurt him during the bout. Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, was surprised by the decision and described it as “dreadful.”
Usyk, on the other hand, celebrated his victory and expressed relief at finally being able to rest and focus on his family. After the match, he called out Warren for being “crazy” and suggesting he might be blind due to his incorrect assessment of Usyk’s performance.
Usyk’s victory solidifies his position as a top contender in the heavyweight division, while Fury looks to bounce back from his first loss in his career. The rematch has set the stage for their next encounter, with many expecting Usyk to retain his titles once again.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/22/sport/oleksandr-usyk-beats-tyson-fury-spt-intl/index.html