Oleksandr Usyk defeats Tyson Fury by unanimous decision in rematch

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Oleksandr Usyk defended the heavyweight championship with another decision victory over Tyson Fury on Saturday, this time by unanimous decision, in a rematch that was just as hard-fought as their first meeting in May.

Usyk, ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound boxer, prevailed by the same score on all three cards: 116-112.

It was difficult to score points in the rounds as Fury had a lot of success, particularly with the southpaw stance as he switched from orthodoxy, but Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) enjoyed the fight’s most indelible moments.

The Ukrainian, fighting for his war-torn country, consistently prevailed against the far larger Fury, hitting the ball with a bevy of lefties.

“I respect this guy a lot because I think he’s very tough,” Usyk, 37, told ESPN. “…Tyson Fury makes me strong. Tyson is a great opponent. Big man. He’s a good man. Tyson, there’s a lot of talk, but it’s just for show.”

Usyk thanked Fury for “an incredible 24 rounds in my career.” He called Fury the best opponent he ever faced, although he felt the rematch was easier than the first fight.

Fury, 36, believed he had done enough to win as he celebrated at the final bell. When the scorecards were announced he was dejected and left the ring without an interview.

The fight was entertaining from start to finish, a fast-paced heavyweight bout with few wins. But it wasn’t nearly as exciting as the first fight (also in Saudi Arabia’s capital), which will likely win Fight of the Year honors.

In this fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship, Usyk knocked Fury down in round 9 as the ropes pinned the Englishman after 14 unanswered punches. The 10:8 round made the difference on the scorecards.

Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) vowed in advance of the rematch that if he simply didn’t mess around and avoid a 10-8 round, he would even the score and force a trilogy fight. “The Gypsy King” kept his promise to take the fight more seriously as he never once taunted Usyk.

The only time Fury played to the audience was during his electrifying performance, when he belted out Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” followed by The Notorious BIG’s “Hypnotize.”

“More seriously,” Fury, ESPN’s No. 2 heavyweight, said at the post-fight press conference, “…I thought I won the fight again. … I was in front the whole time.”

Fury said he was confident he would come out on top in the final round. His right eye was broken, but other than that he never seemed to be injured in the fight, unlike the first time.

“If you don’t get the knockout, here’s what can happen,” he said.

The judges agreed in seven of the twelve rounds. Only two of those were for Fury: rounds 4 and 5, when he scored with his powerful right hand, particularly to the body and with a right uppercut to the chin.

And like the first fight, Usyk took the lead in the second half by imposing his will. Usyk won rounds 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 by unanimous decision as he continued to support Fury with relentless, skillful pressure and feints.

The left overhand was Usyk’s best weapon and was often cleverly used with a jab to the body. Usyk dropped 55 pounds against the 281-pound Fury (a career high, although he stepped on the scale at the weigh-in wearing a leather jacket and Usyk joked that he might have cheeseburgers in his bag, too).

And Usyk’s superior hand and foot speed was evident as the southpaw was able to dodge many of Fury’s powerful shots, triggered by a nice jab. Usyk is the former undisputed cruiserweight champion and now also rules the glamor division of boxing as the best heavyweight of his generation.

The 2012 Olympic gold medalist has two wins each against two of the sport’s top stars, British fighters who have sold out Wembley Stadium several times: Anthony Joshua and Fury.

“I did my best,” Fury said. “If I could have done more, I would have and that was it.”