Oleksandr Usyk beats Tyson Fury again as masterful Ukrainian cements legendary status
Tyson Fury was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in yet another thrilling heavyweight epic.
Fury and Usyk were touching gloves in a mega second instalment of their epic heavyweight rivalry in Riyadh, six months on from Usyk's undisputed title win over the Briton in May.
4
The 'Gypsy King' was looking to get sweet revenge against his long-term foe, to join an elite club including Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis and Michael Moorer by becoming a three-tim⛄e heavyweight world champ🎉ion.
While for Usyk, he was looking to cement his name as the boxing's pound-for-pound leader, and preserve his undefeated record by beating his giant foe ܫfor a second๊ time.
It was another epic war of attrition and an elite-level chess-match of💟 true punching skill, but it was to go to the judges scorecards again.
And it was Usyk who was handed the victory, with the same outcome but this time by unanimous decision, at 116-112 x3 all in the defending champion's favour.
Read More Fury vs Usyk 2
The heavyweight pair had so much at stake, with Fury having come in heavier and making tactical approaches to 🍒try and alter ꧙the course of history.
Usyk came in with the invincible tag and an aura ౠof steely grit and determination as always, and anticipation was in the air as the chess match unfolded again.
Proceedings began with the venue captivated as Fury looked to take the centre ring and ꦕset out his jab, followin🉐g up with some swift straight shots early on.
The Ukrainian targeted the body early on trying t🤪o wrestle the early momentum in his favour, while using his deadly left hand which did so much damage the first time around, a﷽s the fighters laid down their cards.
Most read in Boxing
Fury tried to lead with his jab again as the se🐼cond session commenced, but it allowed Usyk to creep in with some neat left hand inside body work.
A third period to end the quarter saw Usyk comp🔜lain about a shot to💖 the back of the head, but the exchanges that followed were aggressive, back and forth and of elite quality.
4
Fury switched into the southpaw stance, and the🧸 first sign of damage from the war came as his rival saw a🍸 tiny trickle of blood fall from his nose.
Suddenly the fight opened up with two big left hands upstairs from Usyk crashing into the target, but Fury ended the fourth stanza on♈💃 top.
I🍬t was the Br🐻iton’s turn to land a big shot with a sharp left hand finding the target in the fifth, as Usyk dabbed at his nose.
As the halfway poiꦓnt was reached, there was n💟o sign of showboating from Fury but it was Usyk who had a prominent sixth round as some neat and quick shots caught the fluent Briton off guard.
Usyk started to close the distance in the seventh stepping in past✅ the gangly jab and trying to break the resolve of the heavier Briton.
Things became scrappy in the eigh🎉th w𓃲ith a near clash of heads but Usyk beckoned Fury in with neat movement and fantastic work to set the traps.
4
A ninth round came with ghosts of Christmas past last ♛year for Fury who was knocked down in May, but he navigated it succe🔯ssfully and did have short bursts of success.
Both warriors had success in the ဣtenth, Usyk with the left hand and Fury from aggression as both men ཧpushed their foot to the pedal.
It could have gone either way as the 🔯bell sounded for the championship round, but Usyk🅠 looked the livelier.
Usyk’s energy continued at remarkable l✤evels, as he startꩵed to open up and take the late wind from Fury’s sails.
A huge le🤪ft hand landed, but Fury took it well b🧸ut it felt like the tables were turning.
And it was ultima🌳tely Usyk who impressed the judges the 😼most and cemented his status at the pinnacle of the division.
4
Daniel Dubois has stated his claim to the winner of the bout, and will look to set up an undisputed﷽ clash in 2025 with his IBF belt on t♕he line.
He stormed into the ring at the end of the bout a🔯nd made his point.
The Briton shouted: "Usyk I want my revenge, I want my revenge. I want my revenge for last time. Let's go.
"Where is Frank, let it happen?"
Usyk responded: "Your Excellency, make me fight with Daniel Dubois, thank you so much.
"Yeah, no probl𝐆em. I am ready, the 🔜next fight. No problem."
Fury's next move will now be up in the air, as he will likely assess if he is to continue boxing.
Despite a second consecutive defeat, the looming prospect of a settling of his heavyweight rivalry with Anthony Joshua could lay in wait.
Read More on talkSPORT
For Usyk, he could well step in with Dubois next ꧙to settle his name even further.
But he has also teased a move back down to cruiserweight, with Jai Opetaia and Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on standby and keen to host him.
Topics