Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury in heavyweight boxing championship rematch

RIYADH – Oleksandr Usyk won his heavyweight championship rematch against Tyson Fury by unanimous decision overnight on Dec 21, to stay unbeaten across two divisions and cement his place among the greats.

The Ukrainian, who forced the pace and repeatedly tagged Fury with his accurate left hook, was awarded the fight 116-112 by all three judges, handing Fury his second straight loss.

Usyk’s win at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena takes him to 23-0 with 14 knockouts and extends one of the all-time best careers that includes 2012 Olympic gold and undisputed champion at cruiserweight.

“He’s a great fighter, it’s a great performance,” Usyk, 37, said of Fury, who was unbeaten over 35 fights until he lost their four-belt unification bout in May.

“Unbelievable 24 rounds for my career.”

Only the WBA (World Boxing Association), WBO (World Boxing Organisation) and WBC (World Boxing Council) belts were on the line this time after Usyk, focused on the lucrative rematch, relinquished his IBF (International Boxing Federation) title rather than face British challenger Daniel Dubois.

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beating Fury in May,

“The Cat” had already joined the likes of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Mike Tyson as undisputed heavyweight, and the first of the four-belt era.

“He’s my best friend,” he said of Fury. “I respect this guy because I think he’s a really tough opponent. Tyson Fury makes me strong.”

But the defeat opens up an uncertain future for the 36-year-old Fury, now 34-2-1, who announced his retirement in 2022 only to return to the ring.

“I thought I’ve won both fights, but then again I’ve got two losses on my record now, so there’s not much I can do about it,” said the Briton, who refused to discuss his next steps.

He was, however, happy to comment on the officiating, saying his opponent got an early Christmas gift from the judges.

Said Fury: “I’m not going to cry over spilt milk... I know boxing, I’ve been in it all my life – you can’t change no decisions. But I feel a little bit hard done by, actually a lot...

“There was a little bit of Christmas spirit in there. He got a little Christmas gift.”

Promoter Frank Warren also called the judges’ decision “nuts”. But Usyk dismissed his complaints.

“Uncle Frank, I think is blind... crazy man,” joked the Ukrainian.

Fury, wearing a Santa-style red-and-white robe and bushy beard, appeared to Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, before a determined-looking Usyk strode out in Cossack gear.

The 2.06m Briton’s jab held Usyk at bay early on and he landed a jarring right in round 2. Usyk caught Fury flush with a left as he raised the pace in round 3.

They went toe-to-toe in a punishing fifth round, with Fury pummelling body shots, while Usyk launched a flurry to the head. In the sixth, he stung Fury with a clean hit to the nose.

The supremely fit Usyk, renowned for taking charge in the closing rounds, was the aggressor in the seventh, tagging Fury with a hook as the “Gypsy King” backed away.

Fury regained the initiative in the ninth, wielding his jab and one-two combinations and leaning on the Ukrainian, employing his career-heaviest 127.4kg of weight.

It was see-saw stuff as they traded blows, but Usyk rocked Fury in the 11th with a lightning combination that ended with yet another left hook to the face.

An uppercut to Fury’s chin highlighted a furious final round and there seemed little doubt about the winner as Usyk sank to his knees, arms aloft.

Usyk, who briefly served as a soldier after the Russian invasion, then celebrated by holding up a sabre that belonged to Ivan Mazepa, a hero of Ukrainian nationalism who fought against Russian control in the early 1700s.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was quick to hail the victory, calling it proof that Ukraine “will not give up what’s ours” after nearly three years of war with Russia.

“Victory!” Zelensky said in a post on Telegram. “So important and so necessary for all of us now.”

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who enlisted in the Ukrainian military reserves before Russia’s invasion, was at the Kingdom Arena to witness Usyk’s victory.

“Ukraine is fortunate to have you. You’re a true standard-bearer of our resilience... glory to Ukraine,” Klitschko wrote on X. 

Reports put the prize purse at an increased US$190 million (S$257.3 million) with Usyk, as defending champion, expected to receive the bigger share – a reversal of fortunes from May.

The fight sits high in the portfolio of Saudi Arabia’s oil-funded push into sports, which has drawn accusations of “sportswashing” its dubious human rights record.

After Formula One, the LIV Golf tour, Newcastle United and a swathe of ageing football stars, the conservative kingdom’s strategy confirmed its crowning moment in December when it was

awarded football’s 2034 World Cup.

AFP, REUTERS