Tyson Fury stormed out of the ring following the announcement of the judges' decision, refusing interviews as he angrily claimed he believed he had won by at least three rounds. Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, labeled the scoring 'crazy,' questioning how Fury could be awarded only four rounds. 'I thought Tyson won the fight. He thought so too, which is why he’s so disappointed,' Warren remarked, expressing disbelief at the unanimous decision against Fury.
The buildup to this rematch had been nothing short of intense, with both boxers grabbing headlines as they prepared for the highly anticipated title fight. A legendary promotional video was launched by the fighting organization, and the staredown just days before the bout lasted over eleven minutes. Just before the match, Fury inflamed tensions by declaring he would inflict serious pain on Usyk. For boxing aficionados, this clash was heralded as the fight of the year.
Previously, Fury had suffered his first defeat earlier this year against Usyk and was now seeking redemption. Meanwhile, Usyk, defending his WBO, WBA, and WBC titles, remained undefeated. He had relinquished the IBF title to Daniel Dubois after failing to defend it on time, due to his prior commitment to fight Fury.
Usyk faced Fury, who weighed 127 kilograms—his heaviest ever—which gave him a notable advantage. At 6 feet 9 inches, Fury was significantly taller and heavier than the 37-year-old Ukrainian, who weighed 25 kilograms less and stood 15 centimeters shorter.
The match showcased remarkable combat skill, with Fury displaying exceptional speed and agility for his size. Nevertheless, Usyk's footwork posed challenges, and it wasn't until the second round when Fury effectively struck his opponent. Usyk remained resilient, and by the sixth round, he unexpectedly landed a powerful left hook, momentarily staggering Fury and shifting the momentum.
Despite the evenly contested bout, Usyk appeared increasingly aggressive and active as the fight progressed. By the end of the eleventh round, he had visibly shaken Fury once again. Although Fury attempted to rally in the final round, it became apparent the effort was too little, too late. Usyk maintained his nimble demeanor throughout the match, appearing as energized at the end as he had at the start, whereas Fury's fatigue was evident.
The judges scored the fight unanimously for Usyk with tallies of 116-112, showcasing his impactful performance. Fury, affected by the defeat, left the ring before addressing the media.
Following Usyk's win, Daniel Dubois, the current IBF champion, stepped up, demanding a rematch with the Ukrainian. Usyk, reflecting on his victory, stated, 'I’m going home to rest, but I’m ready to fight Dubois, so get the contract ready!' If this rematch occurs, Usyk may again have the chance to unify the heavyweight championship belts, reclaiming the WBA, WBO, WBC, and IBF titles.
Overall, this fight not only solidified Usyk's legacy as one of the heavyweight greats still undefeated, but it also reignited discussions surrounding potential unification fights within the heavyweight division, promising exciting matchups to come.
