Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury for a second time this weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to remain an undefeated unified heavyweight champion.
The slick Ukrainian first got one over on ‘The Gypsy King’ back in May to become undisputed. The split decision win warranted a rematch and one was announced quickly.
This time around Usyk took it unanimously on the scorecards, all judges favouring him 116-112. His performance in the later rounds, as with many in his career, showed the stamina and work rate of an all time great.
That is not to say that Fury was ever out of the fight, keeping it competitive and having pockets of real success, enough to leave some feeling that the judging was a little too favourable for the champion.
That includes David Haye, who has in common with Usyk the fact that he has success at both cruiserweight and heavyweight. The Brit said on TNT Sports Box Office that he gave it to Usyk by ‘one or two rounds.’
“Rarely do you get all three judges having it the same way. Different rounds but all had Tyson winning four rounds. I thought that was very, very harsh. I definitely feel that. Tyson raised his game. He boxed a lot better this time than he boxed last time. His pace, his rhythm, he was trying his best to get in close and rough him up. He was doing all the things he needed to do.
Usyk raised his game once again. He’s got gears and he kept going. Whatever Tyson Fury did, he just kept upping it … [At ringside] I said maybe Usyk [by] one or two rounds. A few people around were shocked. It depends what you’re after, depends what you like. The rounds were close.”
Promoter Frank Warren has taken serious issue with the cards, as did Fury himself.
