Oleksandr Usyk became undisputed heavyweight champion of the world by defeating Tyson Fury on the cards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the end, it came down to one judge.
Given the technical skills of both men as well as the shifting phases of the fight, there has been much debate about the split decision scorecards – 115-112 and 114-113 to Usyk, 114-113 to Fury.
Speaking to Boxing King Media, Former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson said that, in his opinion, the judges were off in their view of the contest and the Brit wasn’t as close to victory as the record books will show.
“Many times you’ve watched boxing and they tell you something you haven’t seen. So because the scorecards said XYZ, they’re telling you you’ve seen something you haven’t. I didn’t see that. I had Usyk up by four rounds, and I’m quite sure there’s a large majority of people who had the same thing.
So just because the scorecards said one thing, it doesn’t mean that’s what you saw and you’re wrong. It means that’s their opinion. Don’t be fooled. In my opinion, I thought Usyk won by four rounds.”
Nelson praised Fury’s performance in the middle rounds when he was finding home for a heavy uppercut that set Usyk off balance and rhythm, but believes he ‘dropped the ball’ thereafter.
In the eighth, Usyk drew blood. He capitalised in the ninth with a prolonged and thrilling knockdown, and carried that momentum to the final bell despite the closer twelfth.
Even with the differing opinions, a split decision loss will help Fury believe he has enough to reverse the result when the pair run it back.The rematch is expected for November or December this year.
