Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his heavyweight championship against Tyson Fury, clinching a unanimous decision victory on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The win, mirroring his first triumph over Fury in May, further solidified Usyk’s status as the best heavyweight of his generation.
Usyk dominated the judges’ scorecards with a 116-112 decision on all three cards, extending his perfect record to 23-0 with 14 knockouts.
The bout was fiercely contested, with both men showing off their tactical prowess, but it was the 37-year-old Ukrainian who secured the most decisive moments.
“I respect Tyson a lot. He’s a very tough guy, and he makes me stronger,” Usyk said after the fight.
“He’s the best opponent I’ve faced in my career. But this fight was easier than the first one.”
Fury, 36, was visibly disappointed as the decision was announced, leaving the ring without speaking to reporters despite his belief that he had done enough to win.
The Gypsy King, renowned for his brash personality, had vowed to approach the rematch more seriously—promising not to taunt Usyk as he had in their first encounter.
Fury stuck to his word, even performing a rousing entrance by singing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize.”
Yet, it was Usyk who executed a flawless strategy, combining speed, precision, and relentless pressure to stifle the much larger Fury, who outweighed him by 55 pounds.
While Fury had success in the early rounds, particularly landing his right hand to the body and chin in Rounds 4 and 5, Usyk began to take over as the fight progressed.
The middle rounds were marked by Usyk’s superior jab and evasive footwork, allowing him to consistently land powerful overhand lefts while avoiding many of Fury’s heavy blows.
By Round 6, Usyk’s dominance was clear as he began to impose his will on Fury, winning five consecutive rounds before closing strong with a clear win in Round 12.
Usyk’s footwork, as well as his ability to slip punches and create angles, proved to be crucial. Fury, despite his size and strength, struggled to land consistent shots on the elusive champion.
Usyk, the former undisputed cruiserweight champion and Olympic gold medalist, showed he was just as adept in the heavyweight division, outlanding Fury by 179 punches to 144, including 73 jabs to Fury’s 44.
While Fury, who entered the fight with a 34-2-1 record and 24 knockouts, was visibly swollen around the right eye, he never appeared seriously hurt during the bout.
His comments post-fight reflected his belief that the lack of a knockout had cost him the win.
“When you don’t get the knockout, this is what can happen. I thought I was on the front foot the entire time.”
For Usyk, this victory cements his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of his era and sets the stage for potential future showdowns, including the much-anticipated possibility of a third fight with Fury.
However, for now, Usyk stands atop the division, unshaken and undisputed—his boxing skills leaving no doubt that he is, indeed, the best of this generation.
“Tyson Fury is a great man, but he didn’t win this time,” Usyk added. “I’m the best in the division right now.”
