Spencer Wan Blog of Sunday, 22 December 2024
Source: Eric Afatsao
In Saturday night's rematch at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by a landslide, securing his unified heavyweight world belts.
The Ukrainian champion once again demonstrated his talent and tenacity by winning by unanimous decision, with the fight being scored 116–112 in his favor by all three judges.
It is a rematch of their split-decision fight from seven months ago, in which Usyk solidified his supremacy over the unbeaten Fury. In an exciting fight that showcased the skills and determination of both competitors, the 37-year-old kept his WBA (Super), WBC, and WBO titles.
Fury, 36, started strongly, landing several eye-catching shots in the early rounds. However, Usyk’s superior work rate and precise combinations gradually took control of the contest. As the fight progressed, the Olympic gold medalist and former undisputed cruiserweight champion finished with a flourish, replicating the resilience and sharpness that earned him victory in their first encounter.
“He [Tyson Fury] is a great fighter, a great opponent. These were unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said after extending his undefeated professional record to 23 wins.
Fury, visibly frustrated by the result, left the ring immediately without conducting a post-fight interview. Backstage, he expressed disbelief, claiming he had won the fight by “at least three rounds.” Despite Fury’s protests, the judges’ unanimous decision reflected Usyk’s cleaner punches and tactical superiority.
The night ended with IBF world champion Daniel Dubois entering the ring, calling for a rematch with Usyk after losing to him last year.
However, the spotlight firmly belonged to Usyk, whose performance reaffirmed his status as one of the best heavyweights in the sport.
The highly anticipated rematch capped off a spectacular night of boxing, with Usyk and Fury delivering another enthralling 12-round contest. Fury, donning a Santa Claus outfit during his entrance to Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You, showed flashes of aggression but was unable to overcome Usyk’s relentless pace and precision.
With this victory, Usyk solidifies his legacy, while questions linger over Fury’s next move in the heavyweight division.