Fury vs Usyk 2 LIVE: Result and reaction as ‘Gypsy King’ rages at judges after heavyweight title rematch
The biggest rematch of the year saw the champion edge out Fury once again in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tyson Fury’s mission to avenge his only professional defeat ended in crushing disappointment as he lost on a unanimous points decision to unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh.
Another classic encounter between the well-matched rivals ended with Usyk retaining his WBC, WBA and WBO belts by finishing 116-112 ahead on all three judges’ scorecards, with an upset Fury storming out of the ring.
It was a fair reflection of the Ukrainian’s control of the rematch given he set the pace for most of the 12 rounds and was the harder worker, landing more frequently and with greater impact.
But that was not the view of Fury, who labelled the result an “early Christmas gift” from the judges to Usyk, or his promoter Frank Warren, who described the decision as “nuts”, “crazy” and “a nonsense”.
Usyk’s performance confirmed his status as an all-time great and the 37-year-old will now look to become undisputed champion for the second time by toppling IBF champion Daniel Dubois. Relive the fight with round-by-round updates below, plus all the reaction from the Kingdom Arena:
There is only one move for Tyson Fury now – and one for Oleksandr Usyk
Years were spent debating who would emerge as this generation’s greatest heavyweight. Tyson Fury? Anthony Joshua? Deontay Wilder? All of that, just for a cruiserweight to enter their territory, cock a leg, and relieve himself.
Oleksandr Usyk waltzed up to heavyweight and took the division’s undisputed titles – to end a 24-year wait for such a champion – by outthinking, outmanoeuvring and outboxing Fury and Joshua twice each.
With his first victory over Joshua, in 2021, Usyk took the Briton’s unified titles; with his second, in 2022, he retained them. This year, he secured two more decision wins over a Briton: Fury, this time, taking the “Gypsy King”’s WBC belt to become undisputed in May, before giving up the IBF title but retaining the remaining gold in Saturday’s rematch.
In between those bouts, there was a stoppage win over Daniel Dubois, who now holds the IBF strap, and before them, there were victories against Derek Chisora and Chazz Witherspoon. Time and again since 2019, the Ukrainian has shared the ring with much bigger men. On Saturday, Fury outweighed him by 55lb.
Yet, in a manner, Usyk has bullied these heavyweights, and in doing so he has established himself as the greatest heavyweight of this generation. Not so much a god among men, as a ruler among gods.
Add to this his prior achievements: undisputed status at cruiserweight, an Olympic gold medal, an unbeaten record. His legacy is a rare one: a perfect one. So, there is one clear move for the Ukrainian.
Full article:
There is only one move for Tyson Fury now – and one for Oleksandr Usyk
Usyk defeated Fury again on Saturday, retaining the unified heavyweight titles. So, what now?
Usyk vs Fury 2’s AI judge turns in bizarre scorecard
So, before Saturday night’s main event, Saudi adviser Turki Al-Sheikh announced that an AI judge would be used for the first time ever. The judge’s score would not affect the official result, however.
And on the night, said judge turned in a scorecard of 118-112 in favour of Usyk – including two 10-10 rounds.
A bizarre turn of events, although this writer will admit: I’d like to see more 10-10 rounds in boxing. Yes, it means a greater likelihood of draws, but sometimes there is nothing to separate boxers in a round.
Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
At the end, as Usyk fell to his knees in prayer and Fury dipped down to kiss his great opponent’s head, both men had the scars and bruises from the fight. Usyk’s face was swollen, reddened, but his icy-cold stare remained in place. It is not easy being the king in the land of the giants, but Usyk has found a way.
Fury never put a foot wrong, but was just beaten to the punch on too many occasions and once again found out that Usyk had an answer for all of his usual tricks.
Fury was never quite able to use the extra poundage to push Usyk about, never quite able to set up Usyk for a sickening uppercut, which was the punch that hurt Usyk in their first fight back in May. And Fury was smarter, never hurt or in danger of being stopped like he was in their first fight. It was, in truth, masterful from both.
Read Steve Bunce’s full analysis from Riyadh:
Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
The Usyk-Fury rematch was personal and brilliant, writes Steve Bunce, but big decisions lie in both fighters’ future and danger lurks round the corner
Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
Oleksandr Usyk is the king of the modern heavyweights and has left in his slipstream the ruins of every giant boxer he has faced in the ring.
On Saturday night in Riyadh, Usyk fought to a standstill once again in a gruelling clash with Tyson Fury. It was their rematch and it was personal and brilliant.
At the end of 12 rounds, Usyk won an oddly wide unanimous decision to retain his championship belts and his crown as the king of the heavyweights. The three identical scores of 116-112, which meant Usyk won eight and Fury just four of the completed rounds, was harsh on Fury, but the right man had his hands raised.
Read Steve Bunce’s full analysis from Riyadh:
Usyk vs Fury was a masterclass but it revealed one harsh boxing truth for both men
The Usyk-Fury rematch was personal and brilliant, writes Steve Bunce, but big decisions lie in both fighters’ future and danger lurks round the corner
Daniel Dubois interrupts Oleksandr Usyk celebration to demand ‘revenge’
Daniel Dubois stormed the ring to interrupt Oleksandr Usyk’s celebrations after his latest win over Tyson Fury and demanded “revenge” in the form a unification bout with the Ukrainian.
Usyk retained his WBC, WBA and WBO heavyweight world championship belts by finishing 116-112 ahead on all three judges’ scorecards in Riyadh to claim a unanimous decision victory over an angry Fury – who abruptly left the ring and called the decision an “early Christmas gift” from the judges to Usyk.
As the Ukrainian superstar celebrated his hard-fought triumph, IBF champion Dubois decided that was the moment to climb into the ring and confront the champion, demanding a rematch with him.
Daniel Dubois interrupts Oleksandr Usyk celebration to demand ‘revenge’
Dubois was knocked out by Usyk in a controversial fight in August 2023 but stormed the ring after the Ukrainian’s victory over Tyson Fury to demand a rematch
Angry Tyson Fury says Oleksandr Usyk’s controversial win was ‘Christmas gift’ from judges
Tyson Fury insisted Oleksandr Usyk had been gifted an early Christmas present after disputing the Ukrainian’s unanimous points victory in their rematch in Riyadh.
Fury lost 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as his bid to avenge his only career loss ended conclusively with the extraordinary Usyk retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO titles.
Promoter Frank Warren said he was “dumbfounded” by both the result and the wide margin of victory – and Fury agreed.
“I felt a little Christmas spirit in there and I think he got a little Christmas gift from them judges. An early Christmas gift,” said Fury, who lost the first fight in May by split decision.
Angry Fury says Usyk’s controversial win was ‘Christmas gift’ from judges
Promoter Frank Warren also said he was ‘dumbfounded’ by both the result and the wide margin of victory
Frank Warren rages at judges for Usyk v Fury result: ‘It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense’
Tyson Fury’s unanimous points defeat to unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh was branded “nuts” by promoter Frank Warren.
Fury lost 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards as his bid to avenge his only career loss ended conclusively with the extraordinary Usyk retaining his WBA, WBC and WBO belts.
The 36-year-old from Morecambe left the ring after the decision was read out, leaving Warren to protest over the outcome.
“I’m dumbfounded, they gave him four rounds out of the 12 rounds, it’s impossible, one judge didn’t give him any round from round six onwards,” the Queensbury Promotions boss told DAZN.
“Only four rounds. Each of them gave him four rounds, four different rounds. How can that be? It’s impossible. It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense. What fight were they watching?”
Frank Warren rages at judges for Usyk v Fury result: ‘It’s crazy. It’s a nonsense’
Tyson Fury lost a unanimous decision 116-112 on all three judges’ scorecards, much to the confusion of promoter Warren
REPORT: Oleksandr Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain titles and end rivalry
Oleksandr Usyk beat Tyson Fury on points on Saturday to do the double over the Briton, retaining the unified heavyweight titles in the process.
Usyk had beaten Fury on points in May, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years. That result in Riyadh kept the Ukrainian unbeaten, while Fury tasted defeat for the first time as a professional.
And on Saturday, in the same Saudi city, Usyk repeated the result, outpointing Fury again to retain the unified titles. This time it was clearer, too, with Usyk a 116-112 winner on all three scorecards, after he won via split decision in May.
While Usyk’s first victory secured him undisputed status at heavyweight – after he previously reigned as undisputed cruiserweight king – the southpaw vacated the IBF title in June. As such, only the WBC, WBO and WBA belts were up for grabs in Saturday’s rematch.
Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury again to retain heavyweight titles and end rivalry
The Ukrainian wins more clearly this time, beating Fury 116-112 on all three scorecards
Fury vs Usyk 2 official scorecards: Did the judges get it right?
Oleksandr Usyk emerged victorious over Tyson Fury again on Saturday, winning on points – just as he did in their first fight.
Except this time, it was a clearer win for Usyk, according to the judges. While the Ukrainian was a split-decision winner in May, this time he won by unanimous decision.
In his first fight with Fury, Usyk secured scorecards of 115-112 and 114-113, while the other judge favoured the Briton 114-113. With that, Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion in Riyadh.
Fury vs Usyk 2 official scorecards: Did the judges get it right?
Usyk beat Fury via unanimous decision, seven months after winning by split decision
Eddie Hearn intends to make Johnny Fisher v Dave Allen rematch
Eddie Hearn tells IFL TV: “I think that the best I could hope for in the ring was a draw. Johnny Fisher won the first four rounds and the 12th.
“If you give Dave Allen every other round and the knockdown, he wins by a point. I’m not sure. My true reaction was we could lose by a point or a draw. I thought he was lucky.
“We suffered from inexperience and a lack of rounds. I thought Dave was fantastic. I want to make the rematch. Big fight, crowd and in London. Johnny is in hospital and had to get his ear drained. I thought he was lucky to get the win but I couldn’t split them.”
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