New Delhi: Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous decision to retain his unified heavyweight world boxing titles in a rematch in Riyadh on Saturday.
Usyk had beat Fury by a split decision verdict in May and won by a 116-112, 116-112, 116-112 verdict at Kingdom Arena to retain his WBC, WBO and WBA (Super) heavyweight world titles.
With the victory, the Ukranian proved his status as a generational great in another closely battled duel win in Saudi Arabia and made him the first undisputed heavyweight champion in the four-belt era.
Having tasted his first heavyweight defeat in their first fight, Briton Fury was ahead after the first eight rounds but the 37-year-old Usky then unleashed all his venom to win the next three rounds to surge ahead and remain undefeated in his professional career (23-0, 14 KOs).
Undisputed champion
Born in Crimea, Usyk is a former Olympic gold medallist and laos a former undisputed cruiserweight champion who bevame a heabyweight fighter in 2019.
He has since registered seven consecutive wins, having earlier defeated Anthony Joshua to win the WBO, WBA and IBF titles in 2021, and beating him again in their rematch 11 months later to retain those belts.
“He (Tyson Fury) is a great fighter, he is a great opponent. An unbelievable 24 rounds for my career. Thank you so much,” Usyk said, as quoted by the BBC.
Two-time world champion Fury has now been defeated two times in his heavyweight career, both times to Usyk, in a record that has 34 wins (24 KOs) and one draw.
“I swear to God I thought I won it by at least three rounds,” the 36-year old said after the fight, as quoted by the BBC.
Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in Riyadh in a rematch to retain his WBC, WBO and WBA (Super) heavyweight world boxing titles Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
