Fury vs Usyk 2: Oleksandr Usyk outpoints Tyson Fury to retain unified heavyweight world title

In a rematch billed as a “revival” between Usyk and Fury, the sport’s two most technically gifted heavyweights put on another classic and showcased elite-level boxing.

The Gypsy King was in a playful mood with an unorthodox ring performance to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You.”

He was dressed as Santa Claus and still sported the bushy beard, which was clarified at a rules meeting amid protests from Usyk’s team.

A stern-faced Usyk marched to the ring in no time. He wore a warrior’s robe and crouched in a corner to say a prayer.

After an 11-minute duel on Thursday, Fury and Usyk picked up where they left off, their eyes locked on each other as they met in the middle of the ring.

Neither player over-exaggerated themselves in the cautious opening round. Fury came through with flying colors in the first fight, but here his work was more serious. He sent Usyk reeling in the final seconds of the second.

With an advantage of 15 centimeters in height, 20 centimeters in reach and 1.2 kilograms in weight, Fury used his physical strength to keep Usyk at a distance.

But just like in the first fight, Usyk managed to target Fury’s body.

Two hard left hooks landed flush on Fury in the fourth round. “Keep it simple – he runs around. Slow it down,” trainer SugarHill Steward told Fury after the fifth.

An overhand left connected cleanly with Fury’s forehead in the sixth set. Fury slowed down and Usyk got into his rhythm.

However, Fury got a second wind and prevailed in the ninth. It felt like everything was on the line in the championship rounds.

Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and actor husband Jason Statham watched from comfortable ringside seats, along with a stellar list of boxing royalty including Roberto Duran, Lennox Lewis and Prince Naseem Hamed.

Usyk unleashed a great combination in the 11th. With Fury temporarily injured, the champion applied pressure.

Fury appeared to be the more desperate of the two as Usyk ended the fight victorious.

But even though Fury appeared frustrated, there were no cries of robbery from ringside observers.